Sir, – Rational decision-making would require that a decision as important as whether to reduce the size of RTÉ and move its operating model in the direction of being solely a publisher, like the UK’s Channel 4, is a decision for Government and should only be taken after comprehensive analysis, public and stakeholder consultation, and national debate (“RTÉ's Late Late Show and Fair City to be produced off Montrose site under new strategy”, News, June 25th).
That a decision to downsize should be forced on RTÉ by simply starving it of funds is a shocking and cynical dereliction of duty by the Government.
In these times when democracy is under threat and disinformation is rampant, it may well be the case that the correct and rational decision would be to strengthen the organisation and increase the size of RTÉ. – Yours, etc,
SYLVESTER MURPHY,
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Gorey,
Co Wexford.
Sir, – RTÉ is an excellent public service broadcaster. For over 60 years it has opened, fenced and maintained an indispensable “public square” for debate, current affairs, the arts, majority opinion, minority opinion, sport, election coverage and analysis, and the exploration of public controversies of every hue and stripe. This is a difficult thing to put a price on – and to be sure, recent events have generated a disconcerting portrait of superannuated unaccountable waste and hubris at the “top”.
It is crucial now for our politicians to differentiate between waste and expense. Debate, current affairs, the arts, majority opinion, minority opinion, sport, election coverage and analysis, and the exploration of public controversies of every hue and stripe are expensive things to do properly and well. But they are also extraordinarily valuable to our democracy. RTÉ is one of the most valuable public bodies in this country, and in an age where democracies, facts and truth are all in recession worldwide. When it comes to cuts at RTÉ, the Government should measure twice and cut once. Privatisation and outsourcing yield temporary gains in every sector where they are deployed. Usually, they also do significant long-term damage. Privatise in haste. Repent at leisure.
We have an excellent public service broadcaster that is, when it comes to the crunch, trusted by the people. This was crystal clear during the worst days of the Covid pandemic.
RTÉ is something we should take great care to “keep”. Facts and the truth matter.
You never miss the water until the well runs dry. – Yours, etc,
MICHAEL DEASY,
Bandon,
Co Cork.
Sir, – GAAGO + Fair City go + Late Late Show go = I go. – Yours, etc,
CHRIS FITZPATRICK,
Dublin 6.