Call for decision on RTÉ funding and clarity around publication of reports
THE Government has been urged to make a decision soon on the future of RTÉ and how it will be funded.
The call was made by Labour Party Senator Marie Sherlock in anticipation of the upcoming receipt of two crucial reports on RTÉ.
One is reviewing its governance and culture, while the second is a probe into contractor fees, human resources and other matters. It was expected both would be finalised by March.
Recently a Government spokesman said the report on contractor fees concluded its work, but the culture review is still being carried out.
On RTÉ’s Saturday with Colm Ó Mongáin, Ms Sherlock said there have been ‘repeated commitments’ from Government ministers to make a decision this year regarding funding for RTÉ, and yet ‘we’re now in April and time is pressing on’.
She said while reports ‘need to be got right’ there also needs to be clarity around when they’ll be seen. They need a ministerial decision and the reports published ‘as soon as possible’.
Both of the reports were commissioned by Arts Minister Catherine Martin last summer. After they are submitted to her she will review the findings, then present them to colleagues in Cabinet. Only then will the much-anticipated inquiries be published.
Before resigning as Taoiseach Leo Varadkar told Fine Gael members irregular self-employment was ‘one of the biggest issues facing the national broadcaster’.
He also claimed PRSI might not have been paid to the State and that there may be other financial implications.
RTÉ has already made a settlement with the Revenue Commissioners about staff working under ‘bogus’ self employment conditions.