Clare Daly (Dublin Fingal, Independent)
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31. To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he will consider the adoption of legislation to curtail the practice by the national broadcaster of paying high-earning television and radio presenters through personal service companies rather than as full-time staff, in view of the fact that this practice has been curtailed in other jurisdictions. [31830/16]

Denis Naughten (Roscommon-Galway, Independent)
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RTÉ is an independent national public service broadcaster whose remit and obligations are set out in the Broadcasting Act 2009.

Section 114 (1) of the Broadcasting Act 2009 states the principal objects and associated powers of RTÉ and Section 98 provides that it 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 day to day matters including general staff remuneration and contracts.  These are purely matters for RTÉ management who in accordance with the company's obligations under Section 105 of the Broadcasting Act 2009, seek to manage their full cost base in a way that ensures the financial sustainability of the company.

There are no proposals to change these legislative provisions.