Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I understand that, but the Minister was unable, at short notice, to come to the Chamber to take this matter and I apologise on her behalf. I have been asked by her Minister to take it on her behalf.

Our colleague, the Minster for Communications, Climate Action and Environment, Deputy Denis Naughten, has statutory responsibility for broadcasting and his remit includes RTÉ. The Minister, Deputy Heather Humphrey's Department has no role in that regard. She understands RTÉ is an independent public service broadcaster which was established under the Broadcasting Act 2009. Section 114 of the Act sets out the objects of RTÉ which include the objective "to establish and maintain orchestras, choirs and other cultural performing groups". Section 98 of the Act establishes the independence of RTÉ in pursuance of its objects.

The Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment and his officials have certain responsibilities in respect of RTÉ, particularly regarding a range of policy and governance issues. It is understood the RTÉ National Symphony Orchestra and the RTÉ Concert Orchestra provide the only full-time salaried employment for orchestral musicians in Ireland. In line with a model found in over 30 European countries, both orchestras have been part of the public broadcasting company since their foundation by RTÉ in the 1940s. As a result, they reach large national and international broadcast audiences, in addition to their live event audiences for large year-round programmes. Both RTÉ orchestras are funded by RTÉ as part of its public service remit.

The Arts Council which comes within the remit of the Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht provides funding for two smaller and regularly performing orchestras - the Irish Chamber Orchestra and the Irish Baroque Orchestra - which are occasionally supported through Culture Ireland for their work abroad. The Irish Chamber Orchestra which retains 22 musicians on part-time retainer contracts specialises in classical music written for small string chamber orchestras. The Irish Baroque Orchestra which has a core of 12 to 16 uncontracted project-based freelance players is a specialist orchestra that plays predominantly 17th and 18th century classical music exclusively on historical period instruments. Both of these smaller orchestras have lower levels of public activity than the two full-time RTÉ orchestras. In 2017 the Arts Council allocated funding of €916,000 to the Irish Chamber Orchestra, while an allocation of €208,000 was made to the Irish Baroque Orchestra. The three other professional performing groups supported by Arts Council funding are the Crash Ensemble, Chamber Choir Ireland and the Contempo Quartet. All three groups receive occasional project-funding support from Culture Ireland for performances abroad. In addition to the two orchestras and the three regularly funded groups, a large and varying number of established and ad hocprofessional groups access non-recurring public funding through Arts Council funding programmes to support them in touring, commissions of new work, one-off music projects and fixed-term residencies.

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