Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 6 June 2012
516 Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources his plans to review the remit of State broadcasting stations, including a review of the type of material produced; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27157/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe remit of the public service broadcasters, RTÉ and TG4 is set out in, respectively, Section 114 and Section 118 of the Broadcasting Act 2009. These Sections of the Act set out the principal objects and associated powers of RTÉ and TG4. Section 98 provides that both corporations shall be independent in the pursuance of these objects.
Section 124(2) of the Act charges the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland (BAI) with carrying out an annual review of the extent to which RTÉ and TG4 have fulfilled their commitments in respect of their public service objects. This review also examines the adequacy of funding of both broadcasters and is ultimately laid before the Houses of the Oireachtas.
I have no plans to change the aforementioned current position as provided for in the Act. Regarding RTÉ specifically and following the BAI report on RTÉ's Mission to Prey programme, as I stated following my recent meeting with the Board, the Company has committed to submitting a quarterly monitoring report measuring new processes and arrangements being embedded into the organisation. While I will not be encroaching on RTÉ's independence as outlined above, this additional process should assist in mitigating editorial risks.
