Sir,- It beggars belief that our national legislators should interest themselves in the appointment of an outside sports broadcaster to RTÉ, (“Calls for RTÉ to clarify recruitment of ex-Newstalk hosts Ger Gilroy and Kieran Cuddihy”, November 5th).
It even further beggars belief that the Fine Gael members of the Oireachtas Sports Committee could interest themselves in whether said broadcaster was provided with a tracksuit for a video.
If this is all these people have to worry about, is it surprising that many people don’t know what Fine Gael stands for? – Yours, etc,
DAVID FITZGERALD,
RM Block
Dundrum,
Dublin 14.
Sir, – While members of the Oireachtas Sports Committee focused their laser-like forensic skills on whether RTÉ had bought a tracksuit for a new presenter, the decline in TV licence revenue by another €11 million next year elicited little attention.
Rather than look for media soundbites on minor matters, could the committee, the overseeing Government department and RTÉ address the fact that their scratchy and non-productive interactions are doing nothing to increase public confidence in public sector broadcasting? Soon, there will be more free TV licence holders than actual payers and at that point, the licence might as well be abolished for everyone. – Yours etc,
DAVID LOUGHLIN,
Rathmines,
Dublin 6.
Sir, – After reading the latest in the RTÉ saga, I think Var should be checked to see if it’s an own goal or a howler, – Yours, etc,
COLM Ó FATHARTA,
Rathgar,
Dublin 6.
