The final investigations concerning scandals at RTÉ have been completed and attention has quickly shifted towards expected future steps. Currently, the government is prioritising the restructuring of public media funding following a substantial decline in TV license sales triggered by RTÉ scandals over the previous year. As noted in our headline today, there is a disagreement among Cabinet members regarding the optimal replacement for the existing €160 fee.
Media Minister Catherine Martin has expressed reservations about a proposed combination system – a popular preference among some Ministers. This alternative would involve a decreased fee for households, supplemented by annual financial support from the treasury. Martin argues that this might lead to an unfavorable outcome.
Historically, Martin has been a proponent of a direct treasury financing system, as suggested by the Future of Media Commission. However, there’s opposition from other individuals like Finance Minister Michael McGrath and Public Expenditure Minister Paschal Donohoe.
Over the coming two months, the ruling coalition plans to arrive at a decision about future finances, conveniently timing this potentially divisive conclusion after the June 7th local and European elections.
Despite this, the proposed funding alteration could potentially evolve into a heated general election topic since there’s no guarantee that the requisite legislation for modifying the financing framework or executing other related RTÉ reforms (e.g., inclusion under the Comptroller and Auditor General’s jurisdiction) will gain Oireachtas approval before the current government’s term ends.
In a slight understatement, Martin expressed, “Time, I suppose, is mildly against me… but I am concentrated on moving as expediently as possible.”
She proposed that draft legislation could potentially be prepared by fall or winter, adding that she’d prefer the present coalition to implement the funding decision. This would, however, require “the entire Oireachtas’ cooperation”, including the opposition.
She encouraged collaboration, stating, “If they’re ready to assist us in ranking this a priority, to pass this through the Houses for the benefit of everyone who values public media content, then it might be achievable.”
But don’t pin your hopes on these events unfolding before March 2025 – the latest permissible date for holding the general election.
The TV Licence fee’s future may likely feature in many political parties’ election pledges. There has been an extensive amount of coverage relating to the three reports on RTÉ. Journalists Jack Horgan-Jones and Colm Keena have reported that the review by Mazars found no valid justification for several significant transactions channelled through the barter account, including €150,000 paid to Ryan Tubridy, the former host of the Late Late Show.
In addition, the report suggested several changes at RTÉ, including restrictions on financial severance packages for staff leaving, introducing new pay brackets for presenters and releasing details of senior executives’ personal interests and expenditure. Horgan-Jones critiques the reports as a disheartening read and questions the national broadcaster’s scope for redemption.
Meanwhile, Arthur Beesley reports that the University of Limerick significantly overpaid for €11.9m student accommodation, as highlighted in a recently published report. He anticipates a challenging confrontation for university representatives when they face the Dáil’s Public Accounts Committee (PAC) on Thursday.
Issues around asylum seeker accommodation persist, with Taoiseach Simon Harris affirming that the roughly 80 tents used by asylum seekers near Baggot Street signify a different situation than the Mount Street encampment.
Renowned for being the favourite event of geopolitics enthusiasts, the Eurovision Song Contest welcomes Ireland back into the grand final after a gap of six years, as reported by Mark Hilliard. He notes the success of Irish act Bambie Thug in the semi-finals held in Malmö.
Foreign Correspondent Mark Paul covers the emergence of numerous American candy stores in Oxford Street and other locations. Education Editor Carl O’Brien reports that Trinity College may lose about €350,000 a week following the closure of the Book of Kells, prompted by students protesting the Gaza war.
The Dáil commences its proceedings at 2pm with Leaders’ Questions, followed by policy-related and Taoiseach’s questions, with 3:05pm reserved for governmental commentary honouring Europe Day.
The day ahead contains an array of activities for both TDs and the Seanad. Beginning at 6:17pm, an affordable housing motion put forth by Sinn Féin will be under discussion. Later, at 8:19pm, TDs are set to deliberate on Topical Issues. Independent Senator Tom Clonan’s bill proposal that seeks to mandate the State’s efforts in addressing disabilities will be scrutinised by the Seanad at 3:30pm. His proposed legislation is named the Disability (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2023.
Today is also a busy one for committees. The Committee on Enterprise will review the administration and rescue procedures of small firms, featuring officials from the Department of Enterprise and Revenue at 9:30am. Concurrently, the Department of Health and Health Service Executive will meet with the Committee on Health to discuss Sláintecare reforms and an emerging World Health Organisation treaty centred around pandemic preparedness.
At 11am, former Taoiseach Bertie Ahern will join the Committee on European Affairs to confer about the enlargement of the European Union in 2004. Later at 1:30pm, issues regarding defective concrete blocks will be investigated by the Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and the Taoiseach. Key figures from the Departments of Finance and Housing as well as the Central Bank will attend this meeting.
Challenges within the bus and coach industry will be spotlighted by the Committee on Transport at 1:30pm. Representatives of companies such as Dublin Bus and Bus Éireann will be in attendance. From 7:30pm, the Committee on Social Protection will study the Government’s proposed auto-enrolment scheme for pensions. Minister Heather Humphreys will address proposed amendments to this bill.
The Committee on Budgetary Oversight will join Ministers Michael McGrath, Minister for Finance, and Paschal Donohoe, Minister for Public Expenditure, to examine the Stability Programme Update (SPU). The SPU, which is an annual submission to the European Commission, projected a budget surplus of €8.6 billion this year. The schedules of the Dáil, Seanad, and various committees are available here, here and here.