Richard O'Donoghue (Limerick County, Independent) | Oireachtas source

In the little time I have left after the previous speaker, I make the point in the context of the television licence that the national broadcaster is supposed to broadcast everything in Ireland, not just the Government show. The Government show is all it seems to broadcast now. In the deal involving taxpayers' money the Government gave to fund RTÉ and stop it from closing, how much air time does the Government get? The Minister should tell the people the truth. How much air time does it get? Why is it that the likes of Virgin Media and TG4 have come up with an even approach to broadcasting but that is not the case for RTÉ? I have followed RTÉ all my life and have great admiration for its staff at all levels, but something is wrong at the top. Coverage is not being given out equally. If the Minister asks reporters, they will tell her they are not getting an opportunity to go out and report the real stories throughout Ireland. Why is that the case? It seems to be all a Government show. When it comes to referendum coverage, it is all one-sided. There are three or four people representing one side and maybe one person from the other side. There is no equality in that regard. If the Government wants, it should fund all the broadcasters equally and allow equal debate across all forms of broadcasting, including all the little radio stations such as Live 95 FM in my area or West Limerick 102. Why does the Government not fund such stations in the same way that it funds RTÉ? Let us have fairness in this matter. If all broadcasters are funded, there will be no bias in terms of representation. My biggest disappointment with RTÉ is that it is not telling the true and real stories that are happening in Ireland and around the world.

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