Results 6,121-6,140 of 7,556 for speaker:Catherine Martin

Joint Committee on Tourism, Culture, Arts, Sport And Media: RTÉ Oversight and Long-Term Support and Funding: Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media (4 Oct 2023)

Catherine Martin: In fairness, in all of the failings of governance that we have seen, it is important to recognise that RTÉ is engaging with governance reforms of its own now, including the reconstitution of the executive board, the formation of an interim leadership team and changes to how the barter account is operated on foot of the first interim Mazars report. It is strengthening the oversight of...

Joint Committee on Tourism, Culture, Arts, Sport And Media: RTÉ Oversight and Long-Term Support and Funding: Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media (4 Oct 2023)

Catherine Martin: If we look to the Future of Media Commission report, one of the recommendations relates to a media fund. We already have the Sound and Vision Fund, comprised of 7% of the net television licence take but the recommendation is that there would be a broader media fund of about €30 million. What we would have is support for public service media content, not just on television and radio...

Joint Committee on Tourism, Culture, Arts, Sport And Media: RTÉ Oversight and Long-Term Support and Funding: Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media (4 Oct 2023)

Catherine Martin: The schemes are in the process of being developed by Coimisiún na Meán. There is a State aid issue at play, which is the only source of delay. There has been a very good level of engagement with Coimisiún na Meán and I have been briefed on this on a very regular basis. As someone from rural Ireland, I know the value of local media and am keen to provide support. It is...

Joint Committee on Tourism, Culture, Arts, Sport And Media: RTÉ Oversight and Long-Term Support and Funding: Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media (4 Oct 2023)

Catherine Martin: In a strange way, although trust has been undermined, in many people's minds here the value of public service broadcasting has only been strengthened.

Joint Committee on Tourism, Culture, Arts, Sport And Media: RTÉ Oversight and Long-Term Support and Funding: Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media (4 Oct 2023)

Catherine Martin: There is a greater understanding of the absolute need for it and of how critical it is. Of course, we will have to see evidence of reform in RTÉ but we must balance this with ensuring that RTÉ continues to fulfil its public service obligations. The reforms will need to be properly planned and executed when the Government decides on the best approach to this.

Joint Committee on Tourism, Culture, Arts, Sport And Media: RTÉ Oversight and Long-Term Support and Funding: Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media (4 Oct 2023)

Catherine Martin: No, I do not believe it has been undermined. There is an absolute determination now on the part of the three party leaders, the Minister for Finance, the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery, and Reform, and myself, who were engaging on this before the RTÉ crisis emerged, to deliver. As I said earlier, consecutive Governments have failed on this. This...

Joint Committee on Tourism, Culture, Arts, Sport And Media: RTÉ Oversight and Long-Term Support and Funding: Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media (4 Oct 2023)

Catherine Martin: A lot of the changes that have been implemented are what we would have expected to be in place from the very start. The board has shown a determination to chart a path forward, to put the reforms in place that are needed and I have seen a much better relationship now in terms of the respect between the board and the interim leadership team, formerly the executive board.

Joint Committee on Tourism, Culture, Arts, Sport And Media: RTÉ Oversight and Long-Term Support and Funding: Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media (4 Oct 2023)

Catherine Martin: It is to look at the very origins of the barter account, which originates in 2012. The reviewers want to go back to the very origins of that account. We have to remember many of the issues we have been dealing with predate the current chair of the board. It is this chair and board that moved very quickly on discovering something in March and made sure that it was examined thoroughly.

Joint Committee on Tourism, Culture, Arts, Sport And Media: RTÉ Oversight and Long-Term Support and Funding: Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media (4 Oct 2023)

Catherine Martin: No. The two independent examinations will still be completed within the six months.

Joint Committee on Tourism, Culture, Arts, Sport And Media: RTÉ Oversight and Long-Term Support and Funding: Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media (4 Oct 2023)

Catherine Martin: There might be a slight increase for Mazars, the forensic accountant, but not-----

Joint Committee on Tourism, Culture, Arts, Sport And Media: RTÉ Oversight and Long-Term Support and Funding: Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media (4 Oct 2023)

Catherine Martin: No. It will come in at approximately €300,000 for Mazars. That is what I said.

Joint Committee on Tourism, Culture, Arts, Sport And Media: RTÉ Oversight and Long-Term Support and Funding: Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media (4 Oct 2023)

Catherine Martin: In total. That is for Mazars, which is the forensic accountant.

Joint Committee on Tourism, Culture, Arts, Sport And Media: RTÉ Oversight and Long-Term Support and Funding: Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media (4 Oct 2023)

Catherine Martin: I would much prefer that the solution as regards the cost base and future strategic direction can be brought forward without the need for compulsory redundancies. I have made that clear to the DG. At the end of the day, however, it is up to the director general to bring his vision for cost-efficiency forward. I have made it clear what we would not like to see.

Joint Committee on Tourism, Culture, Arts, Sport And Media: RTÉ Oversight and Long-Term Support and Funding: Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media (4 Oct 2023)

Catherine Martin: Any redundancy programme that would be brought forward would have to be assessed. It would have to include how it might be funded and-----

Joint Committee on Tourism, Culture, Arts, Sport And Media: RTÉ Oversight and Long-Term Support and Funding: Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media (4 Oct 2023)

Catherine Martin: We are talking in the hypothetical. It is something that NewERA would assess, in the hypothetical. As I said, we hope that will not be brought to us but if it is, that is the process that will take place.

Joint Committee on Tourism, Culture, Arts, Sport And Media: RTÉ Oversight and Long-Term Support and Funding: Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media (4 Oct 2023)

Catherine Martin: That is for the DG to bring to me. The Government does not make decisions on operational matters. It is for RTÉ to bring those decisions to us. We do not want a government to make decisions on cost-cutting measures for RTÉ. It happens the other way around with RTÉ. It will bring them to us.

Joint Committee on Tourism, Culture, Arts, Sport And Media: RTÉ Oversight and Long-Term Support and Funding: Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media (4 Oct 2023)

Catherine Martin: Absolutely. I said that what I hoped for in the future of RTÉ was that focus on independent productions. There is a statutory obligation in respect of independent productions. I met with them two weeks ago and, as I said to Senator Byrne, allayed their fears on that. They will and should be protected. It is a key part of public service.

Joint Committee on Tourism, Culture, Arts, Sport And Media: RTÉ Oversight and Long-Term Support and Funding: Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media (4 Oct 2023)

Catherine Martin: That is a matter for RTÉ to decide.

Joint Committee on Tourism, Culture, Arts, Sport And Media: RTÉ Oversight and Long-Term Support and Funding: Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media (4 Oct 2023)

Catherine Martin: I presumed the Senator was talking about section 481. I have not received any proposal on that.

Joint Committee on Tourism, Culture, Arts, Sport And Media: RTÉ Oversight and Long-Term Support and Funding: Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media (4 Oct 2023)

Catherine Martin: That would be a matter for the Minister for Finance but there is no proposal on the table at the minute.