Government to make decision on RTÉ funding before summer recess

The scale of the financial, organisational, and reputational issues facing RTÉ warranted an in-depth root and branch examination, said Culture Minister Catherine Martin

Culture Minister Catherine Martin has said a decision about how RTÉ will be funded will be made by the Government before the summer recess.

“I intend to push forward on this,” she said, adding she welcomes the review published on Tuesday and its recommendations, which, if implemented, would improve the governance of the broadcaster and ensure that its culture in the future reflected the “real values” of public service broadcasting.

The scale of the financial, organisational, and reputational issues facing RTÉ warranted an in-depth root and branch examination, and there was clearly a need for detailed recommendations to set out a path ahead, she added.

“I'm confident that if these recommendations are implemented, they will definitely improve the governance of RTÉ, both from an internal and external governance point of view, but also ensure that the culture of the organisation reflects what we are seeing in the staff every day and the real values of public service broadcasting," she told RTÉ radio.

"So I'm glad, having met the chair and the director general yesterday, that they have agreed to accept the over 100 recommendations that refer to them, and this government has agreed to accept the recommendations that relate to us.” 

Exchequer funding

The decision over how RTÉ is funded will be taken before the summer, she said. It is important that a sustainable funding model for public service media be put in place. Given the controversy over TV licence revenues, the Exchequer option is one that should be considered, said Ms Martin.

“There are various opinions at the Cabinet table, but we're absolutely united on taking this decision, where consecutive governments have failed, before the summer.” 

When asked about concerns expressed by Tánaiste Micheál Martin about Exchequer funding not being healthy for democracy, the Minister said the Exchequer already provides significant funding to public service media.

“Last year, more than half of spending on public service broadcasting was Exchequer €148 million, out of a total of €271. Indeed, TG4 are almost entirely Exchequer funded, €56 million to €57m this year. So, I think Exchequer funding has been successfully introduced elsewhere, and I believe that it can work here.

"In all models I think there's a risk of a level of political involvement. So even the license fee rate, as we have now, is something that is set by government. There are advantages and disadvantages to all models, but I believe that the Exchequer model is one that should be considered.”