John Lyons (Dublin North West, Labour)
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Question 217: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he will provide a percentage breakdown of spending on programming by RTE, including domestic programming, foreign imports and so on; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14293/11]

Pat Rabbitte (Dublin South West, Labour)
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RTÉ is an independent national public service broadcaster whose remit and obligations are set out in the Broadcasting Act 2009.

The principal objects and associated powers of RTÉ are set out in Section 114(1) of the Broadcasting Act 2009. Section 98 provides that RTÉ shall be independent in the pursuance of these objects subject to the requirements of the Act. As such I, as Minister, have no function in RTÉ's management of their day to day affairs. This includes programming matters and the breakdown of spending on same.

To be of assistance to the Deputy, however, I have asked RTÉ to forward directly to him such information as it can provide in this matter, subject, of course, to whatever commercial constraints as may apply.