Concerns over the decision by RTÉ to drop Rattlebag from its Radio 1 schedule were raised by the Arts Council at a meeting with the broadcaster yesterday.
The meeting, between Arts Council director Mary Cloake, and the director general of RTÉ, Cathal Goan, was scheduled to clarify the role of arts programming in the station's autumn schedule.
In a statement, Ms Cloake said she raised the "serious concerns of the arts community about changes in the RTÉ Radio 1 schedule and the potential downgrading of arts coverage on RTÉ".
"The Arts Council urged RTÉ to maintain arts broadcasting in the mainstream of coverage rather than solely at marginal times," she said.
RTÉ reiterated its commitment to the arts across all its broadcasting services and said it was confident the autumn schedule would address the concerns expressed by the council, she said. The meeting discussed the responsibilities of both organisations in supporting the arts, as well as a wide range of possible joint initiatives, and the central value of the arts in a changing Ireland, Ms Cloake said.
Meanwhile, RTÉ Liveline presenter Joe Duffy has said he can neither confirm nor deny reports that he has been offered €600,000 to move to radio station NewsTalk 106. The presenter told The Irish Times he was "very happy" at RTÉ and was not in a position to comment further.
