Moving Nuacht from RTÉ 1 to RTÉ 2
Leyden questioned the transfer of Nuacht to RTÉ 2 and argued that the Minister’s policy should guide RTÉ. The Minister denied political interference and said he should not determine programme timing or which station carried a programme.
Is the Minister satisfied with the decision of the RTE Authority to transfer the Nuacht from RTE 1 to RTE 2 and is it in accordance with his wishes?
Comment on this
Deputy Leyden, during the course of this year, has alleged several times that there has been political interference with RTE. I categorically deny this, and it would be inappropriate for me or any other Minister for Posts and Telegraphs to interfere in any way with programmes on RTE.
Comment on this
The Minister is responsible for policy and if the Minister lays down that his policy is——
Comment on this
——to have more programmes in Irish on RTE television, then the RTE Authority should comply with that policy.