Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

My understanding is that RTÉ was not expecting to have to deal with this issue today. Dee Forbes spoke on today's edition of "Morning Ireland" and explained the frustration within RTÉ at the news being leaked and the subject of a report on the front page of The Irish Times such that more than 1,800 RTÉ employees read in the newspaper of decisions about which they should have been first informed within RTÉ. There is significant frustration within RTÉ at the leak, but that is how modern media works - it is instantaneous. When information is leaked, it is made public very quickly. RTÉ and other media outlets have taken that approach, so we should not get into the blame game in that respect.

That said, the Government must now respond to a detailed plan from RTÉ. We will assess it and work with the organisation. The Minister recently met representatives of RTÉ and will do so again. We had an idea of the approach to be put forward in the plan. The answer to the Deputy's question is that the Minister only received a complete plan this morning from RTÉ and needs time to assess it fully.

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