The Sunday Business Post reports that RTÉ do not think they will make a saving of €8million euro or anything close to it upon the move of the National Symphony Orchestra (NSO) to the National Concert Hall (NCH) next year. However, the independent report from Helen Boaden and Mediatique commissioned by RTÉ begs to differ. The report details a partnership with the government and RTÉ in the running and funding of the NSO as an independent organisation (or part of the the NCH). The Boaden report outlined seven options open to RTÉ and the government, with the government agreeing to move the NSO to the NCH in 2021, however it looks like they will not partner with RTÉ as report suggested it should.
The Irish public service broadcaster, RTÉ, will gain €20million in annual funding following Catherine Martin\'s (Minister for Media) decision to move the Irish National Symphony Orchestra to the National Concert Hall. Last year RTÉ benefited from the return of TG4\'s portion of the License Fee, which was worth €4.5m in 2018, followed by a €10m increase in funding at the end of 2019 for 2020. RTÉ have yet to go on record in relation to the increase in funding over the last 3 years, only to say it look forward to supporting a smooth and successful transition from RTÉ of the NSO. Meanwhile, Irish Language public service broadcaster, TG4, thank the government for an increase in their public funding of €3.5m in Budget 2021.
The government have established the Future of Media Commission. Brian MacCraith had previously been announced as the chair of the commission. He will be joined by Sinéad Burke, Alan Rusbridger, Lynette Fay, Nuala O\'Connor, Gillian Doyle, Mark Little, Stephen McNamara and Finola Doyle-O\'Neill. Two further proposed members have yet to confirm their participation with the Commission. The commission will identify the experience being delivered by public service broadcaster and consider the extend to which the current models of delivery are appropriate for the next 10 years.
The Minister for Media, Tourism, Arts, Culture, Sport and the Gaeltacht, Catherine Martin, T.D., today (September 10th, 2020) announced the setting up of an Arts and Culture Recovery Taskforce. Martin has put RTÉ\'s former Executive Director of Radio to lead the Taskforce. Clare Duignan has held key leadership roles at RTÉ for over 20 years, and since leaving the broadcaster has been a member of the Board of The Irish Times, The Chester Beatty, Fáilte Irleand, Business to Arts and Ireland Reaching Out. The composition of the taskforce will be announce in the coming days.
The Chairperson of Fáilte Ireland resigned on Saturday 15th of July, 2020. Micheal Cawley resigned after it emerged that he was planning to holiday in Italy, while he and the government were calling on others to holiday in Ireland. Minister for Tourism, Catherine Martin TD, accepted his resignation. Many felt the chairperson was hypocritical at this time by deciding to go on a non-essential trip to Italy. The news was first reported in the Irish Independent.