Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)

I want to support the points made by Deputy McManus on the diaspora. RTE is in a unique position, being both a commercial and public service broadcaster. However, another unique part of RTE is its responsibility to the enormous number of Irish people who live outside this island. About 70 million people worldwide consider themselves Irish. A policy decision was rightly made by the Government that our public service broadcaster would reach out to that community. RTE management have taken it upon themselves to decide that they will not prioritise that project, as it is too expensive, without any consultation with the policymakers that made the strategic decision on what they should do. I have real issues with RTE deciding not to prioritise the diaspora because of funding problems, when that is a fundamental part of its public service remit since the Government made a decision this should be the case.

When we consider some of the other things RTE are doing, and remembering the debate we had about salaries and so on, this is an important project that simply cannot be put on the back burner for funding reasons as it is politically easy to do that. The only people who can check RTE and the priority it gives to the diaspora are people like the Minister. I would like him to do that. I am not sure whether it is appropriate in this Bill, but we should not let the opportunity pass.

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