Proposals for RTÉ Forum On Broadcasting welcomed

Chairman of the RTÉ Authority, Patrick J Wright, has welcomed proposals for a Forum On Broadcasting made by the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands, Sile de Valera.
Mr Wright also gave his backing to the appointment of Dr Maurice O'Connell - outgoing Governor of the Central Bank - to chair the new board.
"I welcome the minister's announcement of a Forum On Broadcasting and confirm that RTÉ will co-operate in every way with the Chair and members of the Forum," he said.
"The forum's remit is very challenging and it assumes responsibility at an important time for all broadcasters. Minister de Valera's initiative is both timely and appropriate and I would like to wish Dr Maurice O'Connell and his colleagues every success in their work."
Mr Wright was responding to the minister's proposals on how the future of RTÉ will be shaped by the continuing need for a cost-effective public-service broadcaster.
Ms de Valera said: "I am trying to make RTÉ cost-effective and we all know there are very high costs in RTÉ. I have set up this forum and I will be giving it four or five months to take submissions from broadcasters and individuals and look at the area of pubic-service broadcasting and the structure and regulation of RTÉ."
Mr Wright went on to stress the importance of an Ireland-owned public service broadcaster and his belief that the forum would ensure that the broadcaster remains relevant to its audience.
"RTÉ will respond to future demands – as it has always evolved and expanded to meet changing audience needs and incorporate technological developments," he said. "We will continue to put the audience first, and look forward to the work of the forum resulting in a secure future for public service broadcasting in Ireland."
RTE, www.rte.ie
(GMcG)