Audience Council

RTÉ Audience Council Communique 15th February 2007

Present: Mark Connolly, Dublin; Paul M. Kinsella, Leinster; Eilis Boland, Northern Ireland; Mary Gallagher McBride, Connacht/Ulster; Maolsheachlainn Ó Caollaí, Foras na Gaeilge; Stephanie O'Callaghan, Arts Council; Patrick O'Leary, Equality Authority; Eddie Sheehy, City and County Managers' Association; Des Sheridan, Community and Voluntary Pillar; Sheena Walsh McMahon, Leinster; Oliver Donohue, ICTU; Ruth Gallagher, Dublin; Valerie Keegan, IBEC; Niall Madigan, IFA; Paul McDermott, Irish Sports Council; Beverly Hanly, RTÉ, Secretary to Audience Council

Regrets: Rev Dr Alan McCormack, Irish Council of Churches; Adrian Ó Donnabháin, Munster; Anthony Kelly, Munster; Maria Killian, ex-officio member RTÉ Authority; Alison McCullagh, Northern Ireland; Pádraig McGinn, Connaught/Ulster; Anne O'Donnell, National Children's Office;

RTÉ: Tom Quinn, RTÉ Group Secretary; Bride Rosney, Director of Communications; Jennifer Taaffe, Editor of Corporate Publications and Niall Doyle, Executive Director Performing Groups. Apologies from Adrian Moynes, Managing Director Radio.

Election of Chairman

Two nominations had been received for the position of Chairman of the Audience Council for 2007. Just prior to the meeting Anthony Kelly sent his apologies and withdrew his candidature. Therefore Paul Kinsella was elected unopposed. The outgoing Chairman, Mark Connolly, thanked the Council for its support during 2006 and wished Paul well in the role of Chairman.

Recent Programming

Bride Rosney, Director of Communications, passed on apologies from the Director-General and Managing Director Radio who were both unable to attend this meeting.

She noted that diversity had been raised at the last meeting. She wished to update the Council on RTÉ's position in this regard. She stated she was dealing specifically with RTÉ's corporate commitments. Diversity in the context of disability access did not appear in the commitments for 2007 because RTÉ will be fully compliant. Last year, RTÉ concentrated on accessibility and this year the emphasis would be on Interculturalism. She stated that RTÉ will be fully compliant with access to its buildings by the time the Disability Act comes into force with the exception of two listed buildings. A short draft policy statement on Interculturalism has been drafted which will be considered by the Executive the following week and she circulated a copy to the Council. She asked for any comments members might have to be forwarded to her before Wednesday, 21st February. There will also be a detailed implementation plan. She gave details of research which has been carried out which shows that immigrants engage more with television than radio for educational purposes as that medium is easier to understand as it is visual. New immigrants to the country are also highly technical using mobile phones, web etc. Due to time constraints which curtailed the discussion, this topic will be revisited at a future meeting.

Presentation on RTÉ Performing Groups

The Executive Director of Performing Groups made a presentation on RTÉ's Performing Groups' activities and responded to any queries/clarifications the Council had. The Council thanked him for his thorough and interesting presentation.

Secretary's Report

The Secretary updated the Council on corporate activities since the last meeting. Concern continued to be expressed about the mispronunciation of place names. A query was also raised about RTÉ's relationship with AA Roadwatch. The issues raised will be clarified in advance of the next meeting.

Compliments were paid to the revamped RTÉ.ie website which is easy to navigate. In response to a comment that there appeared to be very little or no Irish language content, it was confirmed that the website is still being developed and this will increase in due course. There were some issues raised around the scheduling of Rough Diamond on Friday evenings and the rationale behind the decision was explained. It was agreed, however, that it is a very good production. The Hospice was praised for its sensitive handling of a difficult topic. With regard to repeats of programmes, there was a suggestion that it would be useful if the repeat time/date could be announced at the end of the original transmission. With regard to the new RTÉ Radio 1 schedule introduced last Autumn, it was pointed out that the effectiveness of the changes would be reflected in the JNLR results which were being announced that afternoon.

Objectivity of presenters was raised in the context of the run up to the General Election. The Council was assured that this is monitored on an ongoing basis and that RTÉ has an Election Steering Group, chaired by the Director-General, in place. This will be an agenda item at the Council's next meeting.

The role of the Council was raised once again but it was agreed that perhaps it was a little premature to discuss this until the Broadcasting legislation is published. Oral hearings following the e-consultation process had taken place in early January and the Joint Oireachtas Committee would be making recommendations to Government. The RTÉ Group Secretary stated that it would be RTÉ's wish that the Council would continue as heretofore with some refinements and it had made the point that there should be continuity of membership. RTÉ has valued the Council's input and would expect the current Council to produce a report coming to the end of its term of office.

On behalf of the Chairman of the Authority Programme Sub-Committee, the Secretary extended an invitation to the Council Chairman for a delegation from the Council to meet with the Sub-Committee at its meeting on Thursday, 22nd March 2007.

Presentation on Corporate Responsibility

Jennifer Taaffe explained that RTÉ published its first Corporate Responsibility Report in 2006, although it had been ongoing priority for RTÉ over previous years. She said any feedback on this Report would be welcome to the email address provided. As part of its Corporate Responsibility, RTÉ has produced a DVD on Road Safety which has been sent to all second-level schools, as well as to the Local Authorities, to Youthreach programmes around the country; to driving schools; to the Road Safety Authority and to the Garda Traffic Unit. A short segment of the DVD was played at the meeting and the general consensus was that it was an excellent initiative.

Date of Next Meeting

Thursday, 29th March 2007.