Government accused of 'pussyfooting' around RTÉ

The Government has been accused by Independent Broadcasters of Ireland (IBI) of 'pussyfooting' around RTÉ.

The comments come after it emerged that a new Broadcasting Charge will not come on stream until after the election next year.

The Government also published two reports on the advertising market and RTÉ, but the IBI said that both give scant regard to the position independent radio stations are in.

"I think the whole basis of the funding of RTÉ needs to be looked at, and I think the direction the Government has been going in - much to our regret - has been (to) just support RTÉ" said IBI chairman John Purcell.

"I think they had ample time to reform it, they had a commitment in the Programme for Government four years ago to look at the funding of independent and publicly-owned broadcasters.

"They've only looked at the funding of RTÉ and they're basically said: 'Look, the time isn't right'."