16 May 2012, 18:24
The Joint Committee on Communications, Natural Resources and Agriculture today engaged with senior figures in RTE and the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland on issues arising from the Fr Kevin Reynolds defamation case.
Bob Collins and Michael O’Keeffe, Chairman and Chief Executive of the BAI, outlined to the Committee the BAI’s independent report into the matter. They were followed by RTE Board Chairman Tom Savage, who told that Committee that RTE ‘accepts the findings’ of the BAI independent report and ‘can offer no excuse’ for the serious lapse. RTE Director General Noel Curran also addressed the Committee.
Chairman of the Oireachtas Joint Committee Andrew Doyle TD says: “Public broadcasters have a particular responsibility and Committee Members have followed the aftermath of the Fr Reynolds defamation case with deep unease. Our Committee has an important oversight role in the general policy direction of public bodies. Consequently, our overriding concern is to ensure a pathway is found to restore public confidence in the national broadcaster, whose reputation was seriously damaged by the serious editorial and managerial failures in the case.
\"Our motivation is to ensure that licence fees and advertising revenues are spent appropriately and Committee Members are concerned with the level of legal costs arising from the defamation. The Committee looks forward to further exploring how wider public confidence in the station can be restored with Mr Savage and Mr Curran at a session scheduled for next Tuesday 22 May at 2 pm.”
Ends
For further information and to arrange accreditation please contact:
Paul Hand,
Houses of the Oireachtas,
Communications Unit,
Leinster House,
Dublin 2
P: +3531 618 4484
M: +353 87 6949926
F: +3531 618 4551
paul.hand@oireachtas.ie
Committee Membership
Deputies
Tom Barry, Fine Gael
Michael Colreavy, Sinn Fein
Pat Deering, Fine Gael
Andrew Doyle, Fine Gael
Martin Ferris, Sinn Fein
Noel Harrington, Fine Gael
Martin Heydon, Fine Gael
Colm Keaveney, Labour Party
Mattie McGrath, Independent
Michael McNamara, Labour Party
Michael Moynihan, Fianna Fail
Éamon Ó Cuív, Fianna Fail
John O’Mahony, Fine Gael
Ann Phelan, Labour Party
Thomas Pringle, Independent
Senators
Michael Comiskey
Paschal Mooney
Pat O’Neill
Mary Ann O’Brien
Brian Ó Domhnaill
John Whelan