Updated: 6pm. Additional reporting by Press Association.
A decision about how RTÉ will be funded will be made by the Government before the Dáil's summer recess, Minister for Media Catherine Martin has said.
“I intend to push forward on this,” she told RTÉ radio’s News at One.
Ms Martin welcomed 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, that 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.
“I'm glad, having met the chair and the DG (director general) yesterday (Tuesday), 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.”
Sustainable
The decision over how RTÉ is funded will be taken before the summer, she said, adding 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 was one that should be considered, Ms Martin said.
“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.”
Asked of concerns expressed by Tánaiste Micheál Martin about Exchequer funding not being healthy for democracy, Ms Martin 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 €57 this year. So, I think Exchequer funding has been successfully introduced elsewhere, and I believe that it can work here.
“And to be clear, in all models I think there's a risk of a level of political involvement, so even the licence fee rate, as we have now, is something that is set by government.
“There are advantages and disadvantages to, to all models, but I believe that the Exchequer model is one that should be considered,” Ms Martin added.
Commitment
Taoiseach Simon Harris echoed Ms Martin's commitment that the decision over RTÉ's future funding model will be made by the summer recess.
He added it is “important” the Coalition makes an agreed decision on the matter.
Speaking in the Dáil on Wednesday, Mr Harris said the Government will settle the question of how to “sustainably” fund RTÉ and public service broadcasting.
“We reaffirmed this at Cabinet yesterday. The leaders of the three coalition parties, of which I am one, are committed to it.
“It is our intention to make a decision on funding by the summer break. It is important that we do this.
“There are probably two options on the table. Different parties in the House have their views and I welcome this. It is good to have these debates.
“Ultimately, there is a rubber-hits-the-road moment in terms of RTÉ responding with the full implementation plan and this being an enabler for the Government being able to make a decision once and for all on sustainable funding.”
Labour leader Ivana Bacik said the public were “amazed and alarmed” that RTÉ continues to be “mired in controversy”.
“In more than 400 pages, the reports cover barter accounts, broken relationships, and a culture which sold products for some and dodgy contracts for the rest,” she added.
“Indeed, there’s some startling content in there. RTÉ claimed to have lost records of the now infamous barter account, described as hiding in plain sight and elsewhere accounting transactions were described as fictitious.”
She added: “I’ve heard from people who cannot retire or take sick leave or holidays, all because RTÉ will not recognise that they are employees and some of these have worked in the organisation for decades.”
She told the Taoiseach it was “time to make decisions”.
“When will you have an announcement on the sustainable funding model for RTÉ and as part of that announcement?”
Mr Harris said he believed the reports path a way forward for the organisation.
“They show us a way forward and show an opportunity to get to where Deputy Bacik aspires to, and where all parties and the people of the country aspire to, with a better supported, better resourced, better run and better functioning RTE and a real value on public service broadcasting,” he added.
“I hope that yesterday marked an opportunity to begin to turn the page in terms of not just looking back on what was a very dire situation around governance and other matters, but beginning to look forward in terms of implementing the recommendations.”
