TG4 seeks €13.6m to establish independent news service

TG4 has asked the Government for €13.6 million to establish their own news service which would be independent from RTÉ.

A report by the Commission on the Future of Media in July 2022 recommended that TG4 should have its own news channel with full editorial control.

In relation to its pre-budget submission, TG4 told Nuacht TG4 that the figure is an estimate of the cost of setting up their independent news service, and that they would require €2m to upgrade equipment, with a further €11.5m for the first three years to run the service.

Since TG4 came on air in 1996, RTÉ provided their news service and staff, but from 2020 TG4 has wanted its own independent news service.

“We are committed to our Irish language news services across RTÉ platforms, which includes Nuacht’s digital services and daily bulletin on RTÉ One,” a spokesperson for RTÉ said.

“In respect of the future of Nuacht TG4, we have engaged extensively with TG4 directly, and subsequently with Coimisún na Meán, who are to advise the Minister on this issue.

“The Government accepted the Future of Media commission’s recommendation 7.1 regarding editorial control for TG4 over its news services.

“We are currently awaiting further communication from the Department of Tourism, Arts, Culture, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media on the matter.”

The National Union of Journalists (NUJ) said yesterday that the union has had no discussions with TG4 on the establishment of an independent news service.

“Currently Nuacht TG4 journalists are employed by RTÉ. Any proposal must take account of their rights, including employment rights under Transfer of Undertaking legislation. There would have to be absolute clarity from both RTÉ and TG4 on any proposal.”

Speaking earlier on RTÉ Raidió na Gaeltachta’s Adhmhaidin programme, TG4 Director General Alan Esslemont said it is evident from SIPTU that their members in Nuacht TG4’s studio in Co Galway are very unhappy about working conditions.

“The studio is falling apart,” he said. “And if it were not for the investment that I made when I arrived, the studio would have fallen apart.”

He said that TG4 tried to talk to NUJ leaders in the past year and that this has been blocked.

“I don’t know if it is coming from Séamus Dooley of the NUJ or from RTÉ, but TG4 has been blocked from speaking to (their) journalists.”

Mr Esslemont said that both the State and RTÉ are very cynical about the Irish language and that it is very difficult to progress.

“I met Kevin Bakhurst (RTE Director General) several months ago and he said he would revert to us in order to advance this. This has not happened.”

In response to Mr Esslemont’s comments, an NUJ spokesperson said that “in the absence of formal proposals, it has not been appropriate for NUJ members to meet TG4 on a hypothetical proposal.

“We welcome the positive attitude of TG4 towards union representation and look forward to discussions with management when it becomes appropriate.”

In a statement in response to Mr Esslemont’s comments, RTÉ said it was “disappointed” to hear the comments, which it said “don’t reflect the situation”.

“RTÉ has engaged extensively with TG4 directly, and subsequently with Coimisún na Meán on the future of Nuacht TG4.

“RTÉ has delivered detailed plans and costings to the Coimisún, who will advise the Minister. Coimisún na Meán will also be conducting a review of Irish language services this year and RTÉ will engage fully with that process.”

It added: “RTÉ staff and journalists continue to provide a wide range of coverage to TG4 including the weekly current affairs programme 7Lá, extensive Budget, elections and other special events coverage, and social media content in addition to the daily half hour Nuacht TG4 news bulletin.”