Vol. 1029 No. 5
5. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media if she will report on her engagements with RTÉ with regard to pay parity for Irish language workers within the broadcaster. [56642/22]
Tá an cheist seo cosúil leis an gceist a chuir an Teachta Munster. This question is similar to that raised by Deputy Munster. It relates to the need for pay parity for Irish language workers in RTÉ and asks the Minister to report on her engagements in that regard.
.As I set out in my response to Deputy Munster on the issue of potential pay discrepancies between workers in Raidió na Gaeltachta and their English language counterparts, RTÉ is currently undertaking a wide-ranging review of its staff grading structure. I am advised that this process involves a root-and-branch evaluation of all staff roles and grades, including an assessment of the skills needs and requirements of the organisation. It is designed to enable RTÉ to devise a streamlined grading structure with fairness and transparency across all roles, including those in Raidió na Gaeltachta. The review is ongoing and I understand it is likely to conclude in June next year. Deputy Munster asked for clarification in that regard.
Tá sé ríthábhachtach domsa go dtugtar stádas comhionann don Ghaeilge i ngach réimse den saol, ach go háirithe i leith na craoltóireachta. Mar a dúirt mé cheana, tá ról ríthábhachtach aici i múnlú féiniúlacht agus chultúr na hÉireann. It is of critical importance to me that the Irish language is given equal status in all spheres of life, but particularly in respect of broadcasting, which serves such a crucial role in shaping Irish identity and culture. I would therefore share the Deputy's concerns with regard to ensuring there is no disparity in pay that is purely related to the language through which a person conducts his or her work. I am aware the Committee of Public Accounts has raised its concerns on this matter with RTÉ directly and that RTÉ has committed to providing an update to that committee in due course. As the Deputy will recall, the issue was also raised with me on Committee Stage of the Online Safety and Media Regulation Bill.
As I stated to the Deputy's colleague, issues relating to staffing and remuneration are operational matters for RTÉ and I am mindful of its statutory independence in these matters, as set out in the Broadcasting Act 2009. Nevertheless, my officials have engaged with RTÉ to seek further clarity on the matter and will continue to monitor the progress and outcome of the review process in the context of the Department's corporate governance oversight of RTÉ. Notwithstanding this, I consider it necessary and important for RTÉ to address comprehensively the concerns raised by the committee in respect of the pay of Irish language workers, and I have written to RTÉ asking that it respond to the joint committee in this regard.
Gabhaim buíochas leis an Aire as an soiléiriú go bhfuil sé i gceist an tuairisc mar gheall ar na gráid phá in RTÉ a bheith críochnaithe ina iomláine i mí an Mheithimh an bhliain seo chugainn. Is drochlá é, it is a sad day when the State broadcaster has two different levels of pay for the same work. The work of many of those within Raidió na Gaeltachta is probably at a higher level than those on the equivalent. For instance, presenters at Raidió na Gaeltachta are not just presenters; they are also researchers, producers and journalists. There is often an additional burden on those working at Raidió na Gaeltachta. I heard what the Minister said and I welcome her support for the enshrinement of equal pay for equal work within all State sectors, including Raidió na Gaeltachta and RTÉ.
As I outlined in my replies to the Deputy and to Deputy Munster, both of whom I thank for raising this important issue, parity of esteem between the Irish and English languages is vital and so I share the Deputy's concerns in respect of any disparity in pay purely related to the language through which a person conducts his or her work. Although we have been told the ongoing review is not specifically designed to address any disparity in the remuneration of Irish language workers at RTÉ compared with their English language counterparts, the current review process is examining all roles in the organisation. While RTÉ has provided further detail on the ongoing process, I have written to ask it to address the specific concerns of the committee, to communicate with the joint committee, and to set out how the process will address pay disparity. I do not wish to pre-empt any further clarity RTÉ might provide but I am happy to engage further with it on this matter.
This issue has not been in gestation for the past year or so; it has been growing for several years, to the frustration of those working within the Irish language media sections of RTÉ.
The specific complaint relates to Raidió na Gaeltachta in particular, which is a national broadcaster, yet its workers are treated as second-class workers. Will the Minister, in any of the communications she will have in the future, ask RTÉ whether it will retrospectively address the unequal pay for unequal work that has happened over the years at Raidió na Gaeltachta?
As I said, I have to emphasise that this is a matter for RTÉ, given its statutory independence. My Department has no role in the day-to-day administrative or operational functions of RTÉ and, therefore, I cannot direct it in matters relating to staff remuneration. It is vital, however, that there is parity of esteem between both languages. There should also be transparency and clarity on the grading of and, by extension, remuneration for workers, regardless of the language through which their work is conducted. That is why I asked RTÉ to provide greater clarity and address Members' concerns regarding the remuneration of Irish-language staff and how this process will achieve this. On the Deputy's specific question, it would be more prudent to await the outcome of the review before I jump to any conclusions. I will assess where we are when I see that review.
6. Deputy Brian Leddin asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media her plans to make funding streams available to King John's Castle in Limerick, following the recent handover of the castle to Limerick City and County Council; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [56959/22]
As the Minister knows, just a few months ago, King John's Castle in Limerick was handed over by the Shannon Group to Limerick City and County Council. What funding streams might be available for the council as it seeks to develop King John's Castle as a tourist amenity?
My role and that of my departmental officials in tourism lies primarily in the area of national tourism policy development and in securing resources to assist the tourism agencies, Fáilte Ireland and Tourism Ireland, in implementing that policy.
With regard to specific expenditure by Fáilte Ireland from its Exchequer funding allocations, such decisions are an operational matter for Fáilte Ireland, as the national tourism development authority. Neither I, nor my Department, has any role in decisions by the authority regarding its operational funding priorities and related expenditure. On future funding, Fáilte Ireland is unable to commit to any funding at this time as there are currently no schemes open for application. Fáilte Ireland has, however, pledged its full support to the company that will be charged with steering the development of King John's Castle going forward. Indeed, a Fáilte Ireland representative will sit on the board of the newly-formed company.
The Limerick City and County Council takeover of King John's Castle has been a big step forward for the success of the castle and the implications for the wider tourism economy will be far-reaching. As the council only took ownership in April, I am advised that the focus for the summer season was to steady the ship operationally first. King John's Castle had a very successful summer that was full of events, including high-profile concerts, encouraging visitor feedback, and high-profile media coverage nationally and internationally. Fáilte Ireland continues to support King John's Castle through a number of enterprise supports, including, but not limited to, saleable experience and digital that delivers. This is against the backdrop of continued investment in Limerick by Fáilte Ireland, including funding, which will develop a thematic city quarter cluster approach to introduce visitors to each distinctive area of the city and link existing visitor attractions to supporting experiences.
From a wider perspective on tourism capital investment, I look forward to seeing the delivery of projects that will support a tourism sector that is sustainable from environmental, social, and economic perspectives. Fáilte Ireland's priority areas for tourism capital investment include the development and enhancement of tourist attractions and activity-based tourism to provide the type and quality of experience that visitors are seeking. Our overall tourism product offering has led to Ireland being recognised internationally as a year-round, high-quality tourism destination in both urban and rural settings.
I thank the Minister for her answer and acknowledge the important separation between her role as Minister and Fáilte Ireland. King John's Castle in Limerick is a truly iconic structure. The word "iconic" has been overused and abused down through the years but it absolutely applies to King John's Castle, which is at the heart of Limerick city. I know that Limerick people would welcome the Minister to King John's Castle at an appropriate time in the future. As she said, the impetus in the past few months has been to steady the ship in order to successfully manage the handover from Shannon Group to Limerick City and County Council. The evidence of the past few months indicates that has been very successful. I think the Minister and I would both wish Limerick City and County Council continued success. I look forward to further support. I also acknowledge her words that Fáilte Ireland is pledging full support to the council in its endeavours.
As I said, Fáilte Ireland will have a representative sitting on the board of the newly-formed company. It has pledged full support to the company that will be charged with the development and steering of it. As the Deputy agreed, the company has had quite a successful summer in steadying the ship, with those wonderful events and concerts and high-profile media coverage, which is good, not just for King John's Castle but the wider area. I am quite happy to visit King John's Castle and undertake other engagements in Limerick; I can chat to the Deputy about that. I will link in with my officials to see where that can be arranged in the diary. I look forward to it.
I thank the Minister. I ask her to consider a visit to King John's Castle and the wider Limerick and mid-west area. There are many amenities there. I know she has visited already. Her officials will obviously liaise with the council as to when the appropriate time might be to visit King John's Castle. We look forward to that.
On the broader issue of sustainable tourism she mentioned, Limerick and the mid-west have fantastic potential that she will be very keen to develop. One project that has been uppermost in my mind in the past number of months, which has been progressed by our colleague, the Minister for Transport, Deputy Eamon Ryan, is the rail line to Foynes. This will initially be used for rail freight but there is great potential, particularly with the Ryder Cup coming up in Adare in 2027, to open a new station there. I am not asking for any commitments but certainly that all Cabinet Members - I see the Minister of State, Deputy Chambers, looking at me - and the Minister be aware of the potential for a train station in Adare, especially as we lead up to the Ryder Cup because we will have to move approximately 100,000 a day when that competition takes place.
As the Deputy said, the tourism offering in Limerick is vast and within the development of our new national tourism policy, where some consultation is now happening with stakeholders, there will be public consultation in the new year. We are looking to put sustainability at the heart of tourism. That includes all-year-round tourism and driving it out in order that visitors do not just arrive at the capital city for a few days but explore the regions. That is significant. Our greenways, as we have in Limerick, and blueways or waterways, are key to that.
On Foynes, we have the Foynes Flying Boat & Maritime Museum, which has received €1.5 million from the rural regeneration development fund. We should also consider everything that has been done regarding outdoor dining facilities and funding for the Limerick greenway. As I said, there is significant potential there. On Adare, the Ryder Cup 2027 will be massive for Limerick. I look forward to that and to engaging on it. Fáilte Ireland sees the massive potential in that, as does Tourism Ireland. It is being talked about worldwide at every event members of those bodies attend.
