Fiach MacConghail (Independent) | Oireachtas source

We did not fully tease out the National Concert Hall's view of that and we should clarify it. Members of the committee have a serious concern regarding the sweeping powers of the Minister to direct policy at the hall and on the board, particularly under head 9: "The Minister may give general policy directions in writing to the Hall/Board in relation to the performance of the functions of the Hall /Board with the exception of functions relating to artistic and curatorial matters". That does not in any way limit the Minister in dealing with artistic and curatorial matters because running the National Concert Hall is a matter of dealing with artistic and curatorial matters and one cannot differentiate one from the other. I raise this because that could have an indirect impact on RTE. If its involvement in the hall is enshrined in legislation there could be a view that the Minister might be able to direct policy on RTE’s role in the National Concert Hall. I am concerned about the ambiguity around that although this is only a scheme of the Bill and it might come out differently in the draft.

In respect of day-to-day programming how are RTE broadcasters, performers, conductors and the commission process protected from ministerial involvement? I am talking about artistic freedom.