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Time RTÉ was on our screens
THE FACTS are simple. Six months ago RTÉ was mandated by the
Irish Government to provide a television service for the Irish in Britain.
The broadcaster was also given the all-clear to use part of the licence
fee to pay for its provision.
At the time many commentators were confident this long-awaited new channel
could be broadcasting by the end of the year.
With just a few weeks to go before Christmas arrives that now looks unlikely.
Instead informed sources say the delay is due to a disagreement on funding
the new service — estimated at anything between €7million and €25million
a year.
The Government wants the money to come from the present licence fee while
RTÉ insists extra funding is needed if the standard of its domestic
output is to be maintained.
Whatever the rights and wrongs of the two standpoints the facts are clear.
Both parties made a clear commitment to provide an ongoing Irish TV service
for Britain. That is what they promised and that is what is expected —
sooner rather than later.
Now it’s time to stop the haggling and get on with it. People are
getting tired of waiting.
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