From the get-go, there was unease and ambiguity amongst political figures about Irish public service broadcasting and their involvement in it. A century in the past, debates were held in the Dáil concerning the potential formation and funding of a broadcast service for the nascent Free State. With all the commotion surrounding RTÉ’s status, financing and management, the decisions considered crucial in 1924 are worth reconsidering. This conversation was triggered by an exceptional committee set up by the Dáil to scrutinise potential radio broadcasting avenues; this committee convened 37 times from January until March 1924.
This was an issue with both cultural and monetary facets. Historian Johannah Duffy points out that though the main topic was constructing a broadcasting service, the discussion broadened naturally to encompass a wider broadcast policy and its relationship to cultural identity. Part of this was a focus on the capacity of broadcasting to arbitrate and advance national consciousness, as well as its influence in sharing cultural expression and values internationally.
During the nation-building period, this focus was expected, particularly given the significance of cultural autonomy in the emerging State. Yet, of equal importance was the then-critical condition of the country’s economy. A 1923 White Paper on broadcasting proposed that a new station should operate commercially instead of putting the strain on public coffers.
This claim polarized political views. Labour Party TD Patrick Hogan vehemently stated in 1924 that allowing this extensive and popular method of cultivating national uniqueness to fall into private hands would result in those institutions focusing more on generating profits than on contributing to the nation’s wellbeing. In contrast, postmaster-general JJ Walsh placed substantial importance on funding regarding broadcasting control, claiming that the state taking control would be expensive as it couldn’t get the same return on investment as a private firm. He questioned who would pay for a license, in light of the fact that most sought entertainment over enlightenment from broadcasting. At the end of 1926, Walsh estimated there were approximately 25,000 radio receivers in the state, with only 5,000 licenses issued. Ultimately, the resolution was for it to be a state service.
Despite considerable attention on RTÉ, it seems there’s a discouraging lack of political motivation to determine a fresh funding structure. In the 1950s, the prospect of an Irish television was met with financial department opposition, labelling it a luxury service with the potential to skew the balance of payments. León Ó Broin, who was instrumental in bringing television into Irish homes, opposed the notion of private commercial entities taking over. Despite recommendations for a commercial service in 1958, the idea was rejected.
Nowadays, it’s essential to address these discussions contemporarily, but they seem to be overlooked. There is widespread agreement that the current TV licence fee structure is anachronistic. The Future of Media Commission’s 269-page report, published a year after completion in July 2022 by the government, described the licence fee as discriminatory, advising direct exchequer funding alternatively. The report highlights that 37% of public service media funding came from the exchequer in 2010, increasing to 43% by 2020. Furthermore, it states that proceeds from TV licence sales aren’t even enough to annually support RTÉ.
Although Parliament committees are skilled at examination, it appears there’s an absence of political willingness to act on the findings produced from these rigorous reviews.
The political motivation to examine the financial mishandling and mismanagement within RTÉ is substantial, yet the decision-making on a new funding model seems to be lacking. Oireachtas committees have become proficient at rigorous questioning, yet the initiative to act upon these extensively researched reports appears absent. Over 800 written submissions were generated by the FMC report’s official public consultation process, with six online Thematic Dialogues engaging over 1,000 individuals from the public and 50 expert panelists in profound conversations and debates on a wide array of topics relevant to the Commission’s considerations. The Commission also directly collaborated with stakeholders within the industry and policymakers, actively seeking the opinions of media specialists both nationally and internationally.
The ongoing issues since the previous summer are not simply an RTÉ dilemma, but rather another segment in a long-standing narrative with diverse themes. If the aftermath of the Civil War a hundred years prior could seemingly justify the State’s lack of a coherent strategy for public service broadcasting and uncertainty towards its own function, the present situation offers little room for such ambiguity.