Good day,
The vigorous backlash from Siún Ní Raghallaigh towards Catherine Martin, the Minister for Arts and Media, is set to eclipse the Cabinet’s assignment of her successor, Terence O’Rourke, previously chairperson at KPMG. This situation rather succinctly epitomizes the ongoing RTÉ controversy for the Government as well as the broadcaster: each move towards stabilisation only marginally offsets the preceding regressions. Today’s main feature by Arthur Beesley and Pat Leahy elucidates this issue, with further analysis outlined in an additional piece.
What is the foreseeable course of events? There will indisputably be a flurry of questions from Dáil, further committee examinations and a landslide of documents relating to the resignation handed over to the committee. There seems to be no conclusion at hand. Despite visible concerns, Martin does not seem to be at real risk of eviction from her post as long as she remains self-assured, it seems the Coalition is reluctant to risk its stability by seeking a scapegoat. The net result is corrosive, however, as Martin is impacted, tensions escalate, her grip weakens during the crisis and public confidence in the Government and National proficiency dwindles. It appears to be a sombre acceptance for a Government in its final term, along with other indicators of coherence and objective diminishing, as evidenced in Eamon Ryan and Simon Coveney’s dispute over data centres.
Situated against this backdrop, will the resolve to decide on the future financial support for RTÉ consolidate?
For your interest, we invite you to peruse the opinion piece by Justine McCarthy and Breda O’Brien on the Referendum WhatsApps. Over the Atlantic, Keith Duggan reports on a revitalised Donald Trump post-Super Tuesday. Derek Scally shares an unusual reminiscence for the Red Army Faction in his dispatch from Berlin.
Our agenda this week kicks off with a Cabinet meeting, the chief matter being the induction of the new RTÉ Chair, Terence O’Rourke. We’ll delve into his details more in the main feature but for now, here’s a snapshot of other issues that will be up for discussion in government quarters.
The RTÉ controversy continues to roll on. The Public Accounts Committee is set to unveil its report on the crisis at an 11am press conference in Leinster House.
The schedule for the Leader’s Questions in the Dáil is set to commence at the standard time of 2pm. At 3.15pm, it will be followed by questions put forward to the Taoiseach, and at 4pm, there will be International Women’s Day statements. A proposal to support people with disabilities has been proposed by Sinn Féin.
At 8.30pm, Heather Humphreys is slated to take vocal inquiries. Current affairs will then take centre stage at 10pm.
You can see the Dáil’s complete timetable here.
Proceedings in Seanad start at 1pm. The afternoon’s agenda revolves around the committee and remaining stages of the 2023 Criminal Justice (Engagement of Children in Criminal Activity) Bill.
The comprehensive timetable can be found here.
Discussion on alterations to the allocation of specialised educational teachers is scheduled for an 11am education committee meeting. Starting at 2.15pm, the housing committee will hold sequential round-table dialogues on homelessness issues, including representatives from homeless advocacy groups. At 6.15pm, with Housing Minister Darragh O’Brien present, an evening session plans to dissect the Planning and Development Bill.
Later in the day, the Justice Committee will hear from the Garda regarding arson attacks and continue its preliminary scrutiny of legislation dealing with data preservation and access.
To see the full programme, click here.
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