Raidió Teilifís Éireann

Lobbying Organisation Raidió Teilifís Éireann

Date published 21 Jan, 2020

Relevant Matter Public policy or programme

Public Policy Area Communications

Period 1 Sep, 2019 to 31 Dec, 2019

Specific Details Meetings regarding reforming RTÉ for a sustainable future and raising awareness of the challenges facing public service broadcasting.

Intended results Communication of RTÉ's overall finances and its strategic plans.

Name of person primarily responsible for lobbying on this activity Dee Forbes, RTÉ Director General. In addition, lobbying by RTÉ Board members and senior management (as detailed below).

Did any Designated Public Official(DPO) or former Designated Public Official(DPO) carry out lobbying activities on your behalf in relation to this return? You must include yourself, and answer Yes, if you are a current DPO or a DPO at any time in the past. (What is a Designated Public Official?) Yes

Current or Former Designated Public Official(s)

Former Senator Martin Mackin (Former DPO) Senator (Seanad)

Did you manage or direct a grassroots campaign? No

Was this lobbying done on behalf of a client? No

Lobbying activity

The following activities occurred for this specific Subject Matter Area.

Meeting (2-5)

5 September 2019: Dee Forbes, RTÉ Director General met Mark Griffin, Secretary General, DCCAE to discuss reforming RTÉ for a sustainable future. 23 September 2019: Dee Forbes, RTÉ Director General met Mary Lou McDonald, TD, Dáil Éireann to discuss reforming RTÉ for a sustainable future. 1 October 2019: Dee Forbes, RTÉ Director General and Vivienne Flood, Public Affairs Manager, met David Cullinane, TD, Dáil Éireann and Dr. Conor McCabe on the future of RTÉ and its funding. 7 October 2019: members of the RTÉ Board - Moya Doherty (Chair), Ian Kehoe, Shane Naughton and PJ Matthews, met Minister Richard Bruton, Minister for Communications and Patrick Cluskey, Special Adviser, DCCAE. 11 November 2019: Dee Forbes, RTÉ Director General and Rory Coveney, Director of Strategy met Martin Fraser, Sec. Gen, Dept of An Taoisearch re. RTÉ's revised Strategy 2020-2024, future of funding of public service media & broader audio visual sector.

Meeting (2-5)

11 November 2019: Rory Coveney, RTÉ Director of Strategy met Ed Brophy, Special Adviser to Minister for Finance re. RTÉ 's revised Strategy 2020-2024, future funding of public service media & broader audio visual sector. 13 November 2019: Rory Coveney, RTÉ Director of Strategy met Eamon Ryan, TD & Leader of the Green Party. re. RTÉ's revised Strategy 2020-2024, funding of public service media & broader audio visual sector. 14 November 2019: Rory Coveney, RTÉ Director of Strategy met Jack Chambers, TD, re. RTÉ's revised Strategy 2020-2024, future funding of public service media and broader audio visual sector 14 November 2019: Rory Coveney, RTÉ Director of Strategy met Micheál Martin, TD/Leader of Fianna Fáil re. RTÉ's revised Strategy 2020-2024, future funding of public service media and broader audio visual sector. 20 November 2019: Dee Forbes, RTÉ Director General met An Tánaiste, Simon Coveney regarding the future and funding of RTÉ.

Meeting (2-5)

Two meetings took place on 11 December 2019 when RTÉ Board members Moya Doherty (Chair) and Ian Kehoe met the following TDs to raise awareness of the challenges facing public service broadcasting: - David Cullinane TD. - Brendan Howlin TD/Leader of Labour Party. 16 December 2019: RTÉ Board members Moya Doherty (Chair) and Ian Kehoe met Eamon Ryan TD/Leader of the Green Party to raise awareness and increase the understanding of the challenges facing public service broadcasting:

Designated public officials lobbied

The following DPOs were lobbied during this return period on this specific Subject Matter Area. These DPOs were involved in at least one of the Lobbying Activities listed above, but not necessarily all of them. As returns are specific to a Subject Matter Area the above Lobbying Activities may be associated with multiple returns.

Mark Griffin Secretary General (Department of Environment, Climate and Communications)

Mary Lou McDonald TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

David Cullinane TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Richard Bruton Minister (Department of Environment, Climate and Communications)

Patrick Cluskey Special Adviser (Department of Environment, Climate and Communications)

Martin Fraser Secretary General (Department of the Taoiseach)

Ed Brophy Special Adviser (Department of Finance)

Eamon Ryan TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Jack Chambers TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Micheál Martin Taoiseach (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Simon Coveney Tánaiste and Minister (Department of Foreign Affairs)

Brendan Howlin TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)