Harris: How to reform funding of public service media must be decided by summer

The Taoiseach has restated his commitment to reform how the public service media is funded by the summer.

Simon Harris said it is “important” the three-party Government makes an agreed decision on the future funding model for RTE.

The coalition is split on the future of long-term funding of the broadcaster.

More than 100 recommendations from two reports ordered by the Government were published on Tuesday, alongside an examination on the organisation’s use of off-balance sheet transactions.

The Minister for Media, Catherine Martin, said that the decision on the funding model has not been made but added that she believed there are two main options.

While appearing to rule out a hybrid model, she said there could either be a reformed broadcasting charge to be collected by the Revenue Commissioners or direct funding from the Exchequer.

Mr Harris said that the Government will settle the question of how to “sustainably” fund RTE and public service broadcasting.

He told the Dail on Wednesday: “We reaffirmed this at Cabinet yesterday.

“The leaders of the three coalition parties, of which I am one, are committed to it.

“It is our intention to make a decision on funding by the summer break. It is important that we do this.

“There are probably two options on the table. Different parties in the House have their views and I welcome this. It is good to have these debates.

“Ultimately, there is a rubber-hits-the-road moment in terms of RTE responding with the full implementation plan and this being an enabler for the Government being able to make a decision once and for all on sustainable funding.”

Labour leader Ivana Bacik said the public were “amazed and alarmed” that RTE continues to be “mired in controversy”.

“In more than 400 pages, the reports cover barter accounts, broken relationships, and a culture which sold products for some and dodgy contracts for the rest,” she added.

“Indeed, there’s some startling content in there. RTE claimed to have lost records of the now infamous barter account, described as hiding in plain sight and elsewhere accounting transactions were described as fictitious.”

She added: “I’ve heard from people who cannot retire or take sick leave or holidays, all because RTE will not recognise that they are employees and some of these have worked in the organisation for decades.”

She told the Taoiseach it was “time to make decisions”.

“When will you have an announcement on the sustainable funding model for RTE and as part of that announcement?”

Mr Harris said he believed the reports path a way forward for the organisation.

“They show us a way forward and show an opportunity to get to where Deputy Bacik aspires to, and where all parties and the people of the country aspire to, with a better supported, better resourced, better run and better functioning RTE and a real value on public service broadcasting,” he added.

“I hope that yesterday marked an opportunity to begin to turn the page in terms of not just looking back on what was a very dire situation around governance and other matters, but beginning to look forward in terms of implementing the recommendations.”