NUJ welcomes constructive talks on RTÉ funding
The NUJ has welcomed news of a “positive meeting” between the Irish government and RTÉ on the public service broadcaster’s funding.
Patrick O’Donovan TD, Irish media minister, met Terence O’Rourke, RTÉ chair, and Kevin Bakhurst, RTÉ director general, earlier today (8 October). The talks came just a day after the government announced a €20 million cut to RTÉ’s funding - a move strongly condemned by the NUJ.
In a statement following the meeting, Ireland’s Department of Culture, Communications and Sport and RTÉ said they would “continue to engage constructively on all the issues discussed over the next few weeks.”
Laura Davison, NUJ general secretary, said:
“It is important that both sides engage positively with the aim of protecting and maintaining funding for public service broadcasting in Ireland.
“We have noted the comments of both the Minister and Director General, and welcome the commitment of both sides to engage constructively to address the issues that have arisen.”
The NUJ has also welcomed the intervention of the European Broadcasting Union (EBU). The EBU expressed disappointment in the proposed funding cut to RTÉ and registered its disappointment that funding for the Irish language public service broadcaster TG4 has been frozen for the coming year.
Davison added:
“Ultimately this unfortunate turn of events was allowed to develop because the Irish government has failed to properly address the funding of public service broadcasting in Ireland. The work of the Future of Media Commission needs to be considered once again to ensure a secure and predictable funding programme for RTÉ and TG4.”