Sir, - Mark Deering's claim that "RTE's lack of accountability for its use of the licence fee in the absence of a public service remit is in breach of the Treaty of Rome. . ." is a competitor's unsubstantiated allegation, not a statement of fact. RTE's listeners and viewers can see and hear every day of the week what the lowest television licence fee in Europe is helping to pay for - two national television channels, four national radio services, an hour of programmes a day in the schedule of TG4, national and international news, orchestras, performing groups, new media services, and much more.
TV3 knew that this was the reality before it decided to commence operations in Ireland. TV3 also knew the precise terms by which Irish law provides dual funding (TV licence fee and commercial income) for RTE. That funding is used to support the national service of public broadcasting and not, despite Mark Deering's claim, to distort competition in the marketplace. No doubt "private sector operators such as TV3" have clear ideas about what the remit for public service broadcasting should be. But whose interests would their definition favour: the citizens' or their shareholders? - Yours, etc.,
Deirdre Henchy, Public Affairs Manager, RTE, Donnybrook, Dublin 4.