The Joint Committee on Tourism, Culture, Arts Sports and Media is due to publish its report on the long-term funding model for public service media later today.
Speaking ahead of the report with regard to the funding of RTÉ, Minister for Media Catherine Martin said that she was “confident we will have a decision by the end of this month”.
She noted that discussions are ongoing and at an advanced level, but that no decision has yet been made.
The minister added that “it is down to either a revenue raising element or the direct Exchequer”.
Ms Martin said that in relation to her own views – which favour direct funding from the Exchequer – that “this is not about me, it’s public service broadcasting and a sustainable funding model”.
Her comments come after the appearance of RTÉ Director General Kevin Bakhurst and other RTÉ representatives before the Joint Committee on Tourism, Culture, Arts Sports and Media yesterday.
Mr Bakhurst told the Oireachtas committee that claims that the national broadcaster is planning to “privatise” elements of its operations are “untrue”.
He, last week, outlined to staff details of the broadcaster’s plan, called ‘A New Direction’, which is to guide RTÉ for the next five years, with a firm emphasis on focusing on the digital era for public service media.
The document included proposals to move programmes such as The Late Late Show and Fair City off site and potentially offer them for commissioning from independent sector production companies.
Meanwhile Taoiseach Simon Harris said that “there is action on” funding for RTÉ.
Mr Harris said that he, the Tánaiste Micheál Martin, Minister for the Environment Eamon Ryan had met Ms Martin on Monday at their weekly leaders meeting.
“I expect we’ll meet with her again, I hope this Monday,” he said.
He added that a decision will be reached “on what a sustainable model for public service broadcast funding looks like this month”.
“There is action on this, I can assure you,” he said.
The Taoiseach was responding to Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald who noted that, “in the 20 months to April of this year, over €500,000 has been paid in TV licence fines by ordinary people”.
