Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 23 April 2013
411. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he will outline the financial liability of the State to Radio Telefís Éireann should the finances of that organisation become unsustainable. [18425/13]
View answerRTÉ is an independent national public service broadcaster whose remit and obligations are set out in Section 114 of the Broadcasting Act 2009. Section 98 provides that the company shall be independent in the pursuance of these objects, subject to the requirements of the Act and as such, I, as Minister, have no function in the management of RTÉ’s day to day affairs including decisions it makes on its financial expenditure and on its budgetary position. These are purely matters for RTÉ management. RTÉ has a direct obligation under Section 105 of the Broadcasting Act 2009 to ensure that its revenue is at the earliest possible date at least sufficient to meet all sums properly chargeable to its current account and to make suitable provisions with respect to capital expenditure. I am satisfied that RTÉ management is fully cognisant of this obligation and are taking all the necessary steps to ensure that the company continues to be in compliance with the terms of the provision. In this regard, I have engaged with the Director-General of RTÉ on a number of occasions since my appointment as Minister and I have made my view clear that a continuing deficit position is not tenable. I believe that RTÉ management fully concur with this and that the corporation is taking all the necessary steps in its intention to return to a breakeven position by the end of 2013. In the context, I believe it unnecessary and inappropriate to engage in the type of speculation being promulgated by the Deputy in his question.
