Pat Rabbitte (Dublin South West, Labour) | Oireachtas source

It must be very disappointing for senior management in RTE that, having engaged in the serious restructuring it has carried out in the last couple of years and having had pay reductions and redundancies before similar companies, first quarter revenue income from commercial advertising has fallen. In the discussions I have had with the director general and the chairman of the board I have emphasised that the break-even objective for the end of this year has to be met, and the board accepts this. Unfortunately, this may mean management will look for more efficiencies. It is important to acknowledge the progress that has been made, at a cost of some hardship for persons who have left employment prematurely and those who have had changes in income and so on. However, the board and the director general are aware that they have to effect efficiencies wherever they can. It is also important to point out that they have used online services in coping with the changes in technology to which the Deputy pointed and have been doing so from the beginning. They are focused on the digital future of the company. My answer to the Deputy's question on whether there is an awareness and appreciation of the fact that they have to continue to make savings and achieve efficiencies where they can is yes. However, we come back to the net point that it is the diminishing commercial revenue that is causing the problem for the company.

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