RTÉ role in influencing society vital

RTÉ tends to come in for much criticism, especially when the State-owned broadcaster looks for an increase in the licence fee.

Leaving aside economic arguments for and against such a rise, it has to be said the past week has shown the value of public broadcasting.

Irish society has been shocked to the core by revelations in RTÉ’s Prime Time programme that hundreds of children were sexually assaulted by members of the clergy in the Archdiocese of Dublin.