Oversight of RTÉ and plans for longer term being discussed

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Tourism, Culture, Arts, Sport and Media.

Members of the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Tourism, Culture, Arts, Sport and Media are meeting this afternoon to discuss oversight of RTÉ and plans for longer term support and funding for public service media

Chaired by Cavan-Monaghan Fianna Fáil TD Niamh Smyth, the dicussion began at 1:30pm this afternoon.

Funding for public service media is also under the spotlight, with Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media, Catherine Martin, present at the committee too.

Speaking ahead of the meeting Cathaoirleach Deputy Smyth said: "The Committee looks forward to tomorrow’s meeting with Minister Catherine Martin, a meeting underpinned by a mutual desire to begin the rebuilding of public trust and to support RTÉ’s delivery of a valued public good."

She added that the committee looks forward to "discussing efforts undertaken" to date by the Minister so as to see that public trust is restored and to "ensure public service media is adequately funded into the future. This Committee, through its continued work, realises that public service broadcasting is a key pillar of Ireland’s democracy and that transparency and accountability on the part of our public service broadcasters are fundamental.”

The meeting in Committee Room 1 can be viewed live on Oireachtas TV.

The Joint Committee on Tourism, Culture, Arts, Sport and Media has 14 Members, nine from the Dáil and five from the Seanad.