‘State-funded RTE runs risk of political interference’
‘I’M DETERMINED TO REBUILD TRUST AND PRIDE’
THE Finance Minister has again warned of potential political interference in an Exchequer-funded RTE.
Michael McGrath and Tanaiste Micheal Martin are opposed to the idea of yearly State funding.
Speaking on RTE’s Today with Claire Byrne, Mr McGrath said that the licence fee brought in €130 million last year and €150m in 2022.
He added: “Finding about €150m in the budgetary process is incredibly difficult. When you look at what we do every year in the budget, the amount available on expenditure for discretionary new measures, could be about €1.5bn.
Hole
“You could be looking at taking 10 per cent of that to plug the hole to be left from the removal of the licence fee.
“That’s not realistic and that’s not achievable.
“I genuinely do not believe it is a good idea that it would be entirely at the mercy of the Government of the day when it comes to that core funding.
“[Safeguards] could [be put in place] but they could be removed by the next government or a government beyond that.”
But Media Minister Catherine Martin attempted to downplay concerns about political interference in direct Exchequer funding, insisting that a risk “exists in all models”.
RTE Director General Kevin Bakhurst has said he is determined to make RTE a better place to work as a protest heard staff are “embarrassed” to work for the national broadcaster.
Members of the National Union of Journalists (NUJ) gathered at RTE’s campus in Donnybrook yesterday lunchtime to call on the Government to act immediately on the funding crisis in RTE and the wider public service broadcasting sector.
It came just days after the latest scandal that saw Chair of the RTE Board Siun Ni Raghallaigh stepping down from her role.
Following a number of speeches from staff, Mr Bakhurst addressed the crowd and acknowledged the distress caused to workers in recent weeks.
“One thing I would say to all is, I’m absolutely determined, it’s been a rough few weeks for lots of people and the organisation,” he said.
“I’m absolutely determined to make this a better organisation for you all to work in, a better organisation to deliver for audiences and to rebuild trust and pride in working here.”
Scandal
RTE’s Education Correspondent Emma O’Kelly said the events of the last week have “been like a bad dream”.
“They’re like one of those dreams you have where you’re running and you’re trying to get away from something but no matter how hard you run, you can’t get away,” she said.
Meanwhile, Catherine Martin has been asked how the RTE Board can have confidence in her as Media Minister following the scandal engulfing the resignation of Chair Siun Ni Raghallaigh.
Following a bruising three-and-ahalf-hours in the Oireachtas Media Committee on Tuesday evening, Minister Martin was back under the spotlight yesterday afternoon as the Dail heard statements on the scandal.
Labour TD Alan Kelly told Minister Martin that she has put herself in “a situation where it’s either you or the future of RTE”.