2005 was clearly an extremely busy and successful year for RTÉ. The audited figures show achievement ahead of budget and also show a significant increase in expenditure on home-produced programming. This has helped ensure that RTÉ continues to fulfil its public service remit. RTÉ Television has reaped the benefits of this investment with an increased number of loyal viewers across a wide variety of genres. RTÉ Radio, however, has had a tougher time and while growth in listenership to local radio is a dynamic contribution to listener choice, it has been, to some extent, and perhaps inevitably, at the expense of the national broadcaster. This is a trend we are determined to arrest in coming years. This may seem an unlikely possibility but it can be done. Let me offer by way of illustration the fact that the RTÉ Guide has been re-positioned and recorded an increase in sales in 2005 – for the first time in ten years in what is an equivalently competitive market.

RTÉ must remain fully accountable for all our public funding with transparent and comprehensive reporting on Integrated Business Divisions (IBDs), services and programme genres. As has been stressed previously, RTÉ is also a non-profit making organisation and it is essential to budget for, and make, a prudent surplus which can be ring-fenced for the essential maintenance and development projects facing all our IBDs. One of the key development projects spanning 2005 and 2006 is Digital Terrestrial Television (DTT). RTÉ submitted a very comprehensive scenario on the initiation and full roll-out of DTT to the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources in 2005 and is prepared fully to play an appropriate role in this critical national issue. I endorse and reconfirm RTÉ’s commitment to working with Government to develop appropriate legislation for the healthy development of the broadcast sector in Ireland.

Since I took on the responsibility of Chairman of the Authority, I have been struck by the focus within RTÉ on:
• good governance;
• quality output; and
• efficiency.

These, coupled with a huge commitment from staff, bode very well for the coming period when we face immense challenges - many of which will be addressed in the RTÉ Corporate Strategic Plan 2006 – 2010. The Authority looks forward to implementing this Plan. I am grateful to the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources and his officials for their ongoing co-operation and interest in the development of the National Public Service Broadcaster.

Mary Finan