Martin says RTÉ funding report may not be published
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Media Minister Catherine Martin has said the NewERA financial report on RTÉ may not be published due to commercial sensitivity.
The report, which has been finalised and was due to be received by the minister this evening, will inform the negotiations about interim funding for the broadcaster.
NewERA, the financial adviser for the Government, has been examining the request from RTÉ for interim funding.
It is expected Ms Martin will provide the report to other coalition leaders, as well as the Finance and Public Expenditure Ministers.
It comes as the broadcaster is anticipating a loss of up to €21m in TV licence fee revenue by the end of the year and has requested €34.5m in separate interim funding .
Ms Martin has previously confirmed the Government will provide interim funding to the embattled broadcaster in the upcoming budget but declined to say how much.
Although saying limited details may be released, Ms Martin said NewERA was there to advise relevant ministers on State bodies and that reports are usually not published as “there are a number of sensitivities there”.
She said there were separate discussions ongoing on the longer-term funding of RTÉ.
Separately, the Media Minister said the Public Accounts Committee is currently seeking advice from the Office of Parliamentary Legal Advisers regarding its ability to compel certain key witnesses, including former director general Dee Forbes, to attend.
“I said at the very beginning, to get the full transparency and clarity on this issue, we need the key players to present. I know Dee Forbes is unwell but as soon as she returns to good health, I personally, as minister for media would like to see her attending both committees,” she said.
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