'Palpable' dissatisfaction among public over severance packages at RTÉ – Media Committee chair

Vivienne Clarke

Concerns have been raised over severance packages for former employees departing RTÉ by the chair of the Oireachtas Media Committee, Niamh Smyth.

The Fianna Fáil TD for Cavan-Monaghan said there is a “palpable” sense of dissatisfaction from the public over severance packages at the national broadcaster.

Speaking to RTÉ Radio's Morning Ireland ahead of the publication of the 'Future Business Model Plans and Long-Term Vision for the Media Sector' report on Wednesday, Ms Smyth described the document as “extensive and comprehensive”.

The report includes 29 recommendations, covering various topics from funding of public service broadcasting, community and regional content, digital development and digital transformation, she explained.

“We also look at journalism, disinformation, misinformation. We look at access and inclusion, and also the creative industry.

“There's a real focus on that, too in the independent sector. There's a greater emphasis on funding and there's a greater emphasis with our media outlets to reach out to the independent sector, because we know how important they are for public service broadcasting, entities such as RTÉ,” Ms Smyth said.

She acknowledged there are concerns about independence if RTÉ were to be funded by the Exchequer, but added that there has been a suggestion that transparency could be ensured if the issue was managed by the Broadcasting Commission.

Ms Smyth noted the report also emphasises misinformation and disinformation, “and the impact on democracy and how important all of that is when you come to public service broadcasting”.

She said she feels there should be “buy in” from the public, in the form of the TV licence, to partly fund public service broadcasting.

“I think if the last 18 months or 15 months have taught us anything around deep controversies within RTÉ, it's that the public do value public service broadcasting. They do value trusted, media outlets.

“In 2022, €156 million was collected through the TV license, and I certainly don't think you can just write that off. The Minister (for Media, Catherine Martin) has a challenge on her hands to convince her Government leaders and colleagues that that is the way forward.”

While she said she supports the TV Licence, Ms Smyth said the mechanism for collecting the fee was not right.