Catherine Martin (Dublin Rathdown, Green Party) | Oireachtas source

The independent examination of RTÉ, which I announced last week, will be composed of two reviews, namely, a review of governance and culture, and a review of contractor fees, human resources and other matters. While the terms of reference of the review of governance and culture of RTÉ does not explicitly reference climate change, it does provide for an assessment of the impact of RTÉ's commercial income activities on its public service remit. This aspect would be expected to address the impact of sponsorship, product placement and advertising on delivering a service that has the character of a public service, as provided for in section 114 of the Broadcasting Act 2009. If any findings of the review indicate any such editorial influence was exercised, including in respect of climate action, they will be referred to Coimisiún na Meán for investigation.

I agree we need strong regulatory rules on sponsorship and product placement. I recently brought the Online Safety and Media Regulation Act 2022 though the Oireachtas, which put the regulation of video-on-demand services such as the RTÉ Player on a statutory footing for the first time.

Following the passage of the Online Safety and Media Regulation Act, section 46N of the Broadcasting Act now provides that Coimisiún na Meán may make media service codes which are binding on broadcasting and video-on-demand services, such as RTÉ television and the RTÉ Player. Furthermore, section 7(4)(c) of the Broadcasting Act provides that Coimisiún na Meán will have regard to climate change and environmental sustainability in the performance of its functions. Coimisiún na Meán has indicated that a consultation on the new media codes will be undertaken this quarter. This will be an opportunity to suggest amendments to the codes, including to the general commercial communications code.

I have also taken action to support programming in relation to climate action. Under the Climate Action Plan 2021, my Department and the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications allocated €2.5 million each for a total of €5 million to the sound and vision scheme to promote media content which raises awareness of climate change and promotes action and behavioural change to combat it. That funding was awarded in December 2022 and will support ten radio projects and 15 television projects.

See this speech in context