Audience Council
Thursday, 3rd March 2005
Present: Sheena Walsh McMahon, Leinster; Paul M. Kinsella, Leinster; Ruth Gallagher, Dublin; Oliver Donohoe, Social Partners ICTU; June Tinsley, Community & Voluntary Pillar INOU; Patrick O'Leary, The Equality Authority; Maolsheachlainn Ó Caollaí, Foras na Gaeilge; Paul McDermott, The Irish Sports Council; Stephanie O'Callaghan, The Arts Council; Alan McCormack, The Irish Council of Churches; Eilís Boland, Northern Ireland; Mary Golden, National Children's Office; Valerie Keegan, Social Partners IBEC
Regrets: Mark Connolly, Dublin; Pádraig McGinn, Connacht/Ulster; Anthony Kelly, Munster; Garry Hynes, Ex-Officio Member/RTÉ Authority; Alison McCullagh, Northern Ireland; Adrian Ó Donnabháin, Munster; Mary Gallagher McBride, Connacht/Ulster; Eddie Sheehy, County & City Managers' Assocation
RTÉ: Beverly Hanly; Tom Quinn; Adrian Moynes
Prior to its own meeting, the RTÉ Audience Council and the BBC Broadcasting Council for Northern Ireland held a joint meeting at which members of both Councils gave a presentation of their Council's remit and work. The BBC Council made reference to the Charter renewal process which is currently underway. This was followed by a discussion on issues of mutual cooperation.
Upon their departure, the BBC Broadcasting Council issued an invitation to the RTÉ Audience Council for a reciprocal visit.
The RTÉ Audience Council then held a brief meeting due to time commitments of its members.
Members agreed that the joint meeting with BBCNI had been useful.
With regard to accountability, it was agreed that some mechanism needs to be found whereby the Council can get feedback from RTÉ on how its inputs are reacted to and acted upon by RTÉ, and if not, why not. It was pointed out that there will be a report from the Audience Council included in the 2004 RTÉ Annual Report with a response from the Director-General. There is a report given to the RTÉ Authority following each meeting and issues raised in the Communiques relating to the various output divisions are discussed within those divisions.
It was agreed that a small group would look at the issues raised in this discussion and in relation to how the Council's input is managed internally, it was agreed that the RTÉ Group Secretary would prepare a paper on how RTÉ acts upon the Council's input on programming issues.
There was also a suggestion that members might circulate papers among themselves to enable members to get to know each other better and stimulate better communication among the group.
It was agreed that the Council now needs to move forward and look at more ways of engaging with the audience and how the Council might make itself more visible perhaps by members participating on radio shows or in public meetings. Members will submit their thoughts on this.
Discussion on Programming - structure for future meetings
It had been agreed that discussion on programming needed to be more structured and so it was agreed that specific strands of programming on Television and Radio would be identified for discussion at each meeting. It was agreed that TV soaps and business reporting on Radio would be the strands to be looked at for discussion at the next meeting.
Dates of future meetings
Thursday, 12th May 2005
Wednesday, 28th September
Wednesday, 16th November - to be confirmed
Any Other Business
RTÉ Group Secretary will follow up on the status of the draft Multiculturalism document which was discussed at the November meeting and report back to the Council.