A NEW programme controller at Radio Ireland will be appointed this week, making it almost certain that its chief executive, Mr Dan Collins, will leave.
Radio Ireland's chairman, Mr John McColgan, confirmed to The Irish Times that a senior broadcaster would be appointed temporarily. He would not give the name, but said he was Scottish and a former controller of programmes at Radio Clyde. He had also worked for the BBC and is a former producer ana writer.
Radio Clyde is owned by Scottish Radio Holdings, which has a 15 per cent stake in Radio Ireland. Its chairman, Mr James Gordon, made an application for the national radio licence, which was won by Radio Ireland.
It is believed that the new appointee will take over programming responsibilities from Mr Collins, while Mr McColgan will act as executive chairman.
Mr Collins will be asked today if he has decided about his future with the station. Last Monday he was given a week to consider his position and take a lesser role within Radio Ireland. It was not clear yesterday what Mr Collins will do, though a spokesman said he is still chief executive.
Both sides in this dispute have sought legal advice and have hired public relations consultants.
Mr McColgan said he was precluded from talking about the situation with Mr Collins, but he confirmed Radio Ireland was ready to go on air on St Patrick's Day as planned.
A board meeting will be held tomorrow and the Independent Radio and Television Commission will be briefed later in the week he said. Also this week the station, will announce its weekend schedule. This will include programmes presented by Paddy Murray of the Star; John Ryan, editor of In Dublin magazine, as well as three hours of sport on Saturday and Sunday with sports editor, Robbie Irwin and sports journalist Liam Mackey.
Mr McColgan said the situation with its chief executive was unfortunate, but it was not a crisis. The station would go on air as scheduled on St Patrick's Day. The programme schedule had been agreed.
Mr McColgan said that media consultant Mr Tom Savage was the senior programme editor of Daybreak, to be presented by Emily O'Reilly and Gavin Duffy, and The Last Word, with Eamon Dunphy and Ann Marie Hourihane. A UK based marketing company, Paragon, had been hired to undertake market research.
It is believed Mr McColgan and his colleagues were concerned that preparations were taking too long and the station would not be ready to go on air on March 17th. A number of the promoters' took over responsibility for particular areas and it is believed that it was that decision which led to tensions between them and Mr Collins.
The regulatory body, the Independent Radio and Television Commission, has not commented so far. It is to meet on Friday.