Síle de Valera
Question:19 Miss de Valera asked the Minister for Arts, Culture and the Gaeltacht if any member of the present RTÉ authority was involved in any way in the preparation of the Green Paper on Broadcasting. [17689/95]
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Green Paper on Broadcasting.
The RTE Authority was appointed on 1 June 1995 after the publication of the Green Paper. I invited Professor Farrel Corcoran of Dublin City University in November 1994 to provide an independent review of the Green Paper in draft form and to contribute additional material in relation to certain aspects, including the question of television and children's rights. I am most grateful for the contribution of Professor Corcoran to the Green Paper. Professor Corcoran was the only member of the present RTÉ Authority who had an input to the Green Paper.
On the last occasion the Minister took questions I was, unfortunately, absent because of illness. I thank him for wishing me well on that occasion and I very much appreciate his kind remarks.
They worked.
Does the Minister agree that Professor Corcoran, chairman of RTE, who I am sure is an expert in his field, is compromised by the fact that he is involved in giving RTE's views on the Green Paper on Broadcasting, condsidering his contribution to that paper? Does he believe that Professor Corcoran should be excluded from representing RTÉ during the current debate on broadcasting because of the perception that he is very close to the Minister on this issue?
I do not believe he should be excluded. I sought Professor Corcoran's opinion on the draft of the Green Paper on the basis of his competence, his published work and his wide reputation internationally, for example, in regard to television and children's rights, and his opinion was most valuable. Subsequently when the Authority was appointed Professor Corcoran informed it of the precise matter upon which he had offered an opinion on the Green Paper. The submission received from the Authority, with more than 150 others, is comprehensive ranging across many matters other than those on which he expressed an opinion.
Will the Minister agree that Professor Corcorcan will find it very difficult to represent the interests of RTÉ in the present debate on broadcasting because its interests may not necessarily be in line with the Minister's views and those presented in the Green Paper?
RTÉ is statutorily independent of the Minister. It is perfectly clear that the Authority from time to time expresses such opinions as it wishes. That is its right and it is not interfered with by me. There is no difficulty in that regard. If a person who is recognised as one of the most distinguished communications experts were disqualified on the basis of being public service-minded enough to offer an opinion, that would be grossly unfair. I have every confidence in the RTÉ Authority and I am particularly confident that Professor Corcoran will make a distinguished contribution.