Vol. 448 No. 4
34 Mr. E. Byrne asked the Minister for Arts, Culture and the Gaeltacht the plans, if any, he has to amend the Broadcasting Act to allow for the election of representatives of RTE employees to the RTE authority; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2181/95]
The appropriate method of providing a statutory basis for the election of worker directors to the Authority would be an extension, by order of the Minister for Enterprise and Employment, of the provisions of the Worker Participation (State Enterprises) Acts, 1977 to 1993. There are no plans at present to extend those provisions to RTE.
At present I understand that RTE has worker participation at sub-board leveland has established a Participation Forum which was formally launched in May 1994.
The term of office of the current RTE Authority expires on 31 May 1995. Members of the Authority are appointed by Government. It has been the practice of successive Governments to appoint a member of the RTE staff to the Authority. I am, at present, considering the feasibility of devising a more democratic selection process in relation to the appointment to the Authority of an RTE staff member. When my consideration is completed I hope to bring proposals in relation to this matter before Government.
