Minister to get RTÉ finance report this week 

Media Minister Catherine Martin expects to receive an assessment on RTÉ funding in the next week. Picture: Niall Carson/PA

Media Minister Catherine Martin says that she expects to receive a report on the financial situation at RTÉ within the next week.

In July, the Government introduced new financial controls on RTÉ as the state broadcaster was brought under the remit of the New Economy and Recovery Authority (NewERA).

NewERA, the financial advisor for the Government, is currently examining a request from RTÉ for €34.5m in interim funding.

Ms Martin confirmed that she expected to receive an assessment from NewERA on this funding in the next week.

Asked how this may influence the Government’s decision to allocate interim funding to RTÉ in the upcoming budget, Ms Martin said that it would have a “large bearing”.

“So once I have that figure, I will be talking to [Public Expenditure Minister Paschal] Donohoe on that and it will have a large bearing on it,” Ms Martin said.

She added that a strategic report from RTÉ’s director general Kevin Bakhurst may be delivered after the upcoming budget, following interim funding being provided.

However, she said that this strategic report may play a role in the longer-term funding allocated to RTÉ by the Government.

Ms Martin also said that it is important that when the former RTÉ director general, Dee Forbes, returns to full health, she engages with ongoing Oireachtas committee investigations.

“When she is feeling better, I think we really need to hear because the more people that can shed the light on this issue is better for helping the rebuilding of trust.” 

President's comments

Ms Martin also commented on a speech made by President Michael D Higgins on Tuesday at the Ploughing Championships, where he criticised the United Nations, saying that it is “losing credibility”.

“It is unable to stop war, it is unable to end famine, it is unable to stop conflicts, it is unable to manage migration,” Mr Higgins said, particularly criticising the “major powers” within the UN.

Reacting, Ms Martin said that the President is “entitled to his own opinion” on the matter.

“There is an obvious need there for reform of the UN Security Council but we should never undermine the great work that’s being done as well in terms of security and works done with refugees.

Asked if President Higgins had undermined Taoiseach Leo Varadkar, Tánaiste Micheál Martin, and other ministers currently attending the UN General Assembly, Ms Martin said: “I doubt that that was his intention.”