Commenting, Director-General of RTÉ, Kevin Bakhurst said: 

“RTÉ welcomes today’s announcement by Government which provides RTÉ with multi-annual funding for the first time in a generation and recognises the importance and value of strong and independent public service media to Ireland.  This commitment over the next three years is significant in enabling RTÉ to plan ahead with certainty as we focus on delivering more for Irish audiences as outlined in our five-year strategy. It also means we can continue the necessary  transformation of RTÉ and the restoration of trust while also delivering important and engaging public service programming and content across our television, radio and online services, in English and in Irish.

Throughout a very difficult time for the organisation, so many people across RTÉ, and across Ireland’s independent creative sector have continued to work really hard on behalf of our audience. From the excitement of our free-to-air live sport – and so much more to come – to our around-the-clock coverage and analysis of the local, national and international news stories that matter, and from supporting Irish actors, writers, performers and musicians through our drama, music and entertainment output to our commitment to important investigative reporting into horse welfare standards and into widespread allegations of inappropriate behaviour made by women against Irish male soccer coaches, and so much more, we have been there for our audience throughout Ireland, day in and day out across television, radio and online. And that is what we are here to do.  I am grateful to those who have continued to pay their TV licence since I started in this role in July last year.

Our five-year strategy, which was necessary even before the issues of the past year or more emerged, is about creating a trusted organisation that delivers for Irish audiences. It is about backing creative ambition and digital innovation, supporting Irish culture, and bringing people together. It is about reflecting Ireland and supporting the creative industry across the island. It is a plan based on the core values of public service. We are determined to build a strong, modern RTÉ that will play a defining role in Irish life; an RTÉ that Ireland will be proud of.

We will not take the opportunity that today’s announcement presents for granted.”

Welcoming the announcement, Chair of the Board of RTÉ, Terence O’Rourke said:

“I welcome today’s announcement by the Minister of a new funding model to help secure the future of RTÉ. The Board of RTÉ is satisfied that the funding suggested will enable RTÉ to continue the critically important process of organisational change and reform already well under way in RTÉ .

In particular I welcome the commitment on the part of Government to a muiti-annual funding model. This will help provide an ongoing and suitably stable environment in which the organisation can make the medium and long term strategic decisions that are integral to its future.

Of course, there are many challenges and tough decisions ahead,  but today is a positive day for RTÉ. Much of this is the result of a lengthy period of engagement with the Minister and her Department. I would like to thank her for her work in this regard and her evident dedication to the future of public service broadcasting in Ireland.”