‘Culture of arrogance’ among some senior figures in RTE, says Taoiseach

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has said there is a “culture of arrogance” among senior figures within RTE, and there has been “poor governance” around decisions being made.

He was responding to questions from Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou McDonald, who said public trust in RTE has “crumbled” in the wake of a series of revelations relating to the broadcaster’s governance and finances, and that people “feel taken for fools”.

A vote is to take place on Sinn Fein’s Dail motion calling for a legal amnesty for those who have not paid their TV licence fee in the wake of controversies which were revealed last year, and for the abolition of the TV licence system.

Instead Sinn Fein is proposing a direct Exchequer-funded model.

Speaking in the Dail during Leaders’ Questions, Ms McDonald asked whether the Taoiseach plans to chase people through the courts for not paying their TV licence fee.

“Not one of the top brass at RTE have been held to account,” she said, arguing it is unfair to pursue members of the public for not paying the 160 euro fee.

Ms McDonald also accused Cabinet ministers of being divided on a new funding model for Ireland’s public service broadcaster.

She said Mr Varadkar has said previously that the current model is “outdated” and “belongs to a different time”, which she then used to urge the Taoiseach to “abolish it”.

“The Government must end the merry-go-round of dither, of delay, and contradiction now,” she said.

“Scrap the TV licence and replace it with Exchequer funding to ensure a better future for public service media.”

Mr Varadkar responded by asking whether Sinn Fein’s policy includes offering a rebate to those who have paid for their TV licence.

“I believe that many people should obey the law and I believe that many people should pay their taxes and pay their charges,” he said.

“And I think it would be an affront and an insult to the majority of decent, law-abiding citizens who have paid their TV licence fee to now grant an amnesty to those who didn’t. I think (that) would be profoundly unfair.”

He also raised concerns about a conflict of interest if a model of direct state funding was introduced.

“We know that there’s somebody in this House, who might be the head of government in the next government, who’s suing RTE at the moment.

“That will be huge conflict of interest, in my view, to have people who are suing RTE deciding how much money they get paid.

“That’s not the kind of democracy we want.

“That’s the kind of thing we’re starting to see happen in the United States and other places, and I definitely would not want that to be the case in our state.”

Ms McDonald took legal action against RTE in the High Court in 2022 over alleged defamation.

Appearing before committee on Wednesday afternoon, RTE director-general Kevin Bakhurst said he welcomed the “real live discussion about how to fund public service media” in Ireland.

He said it was up to the Government and the Oireachtas to “resolve this for the future”, and if the organisation was properly funded, RTE would deliver “high-quality public service content, (which) will support democracy, tackle disinformation and will deliver an organisation which is transparent and accountable”.

He said a form of funding that is predictable is also important for companies that RTE outsources work to, and that a long-term funding model would be “a bedrock of independent production businesses”.