Concern at RTÉ board nominees

MINISTER FOR Communications Eamon Ryan has been asked to examine possible or potential conflicts of interest among a number of nominees to the boards of RTÉ and the newly formed Broadcasting Authority of Ireland.

The National Union of Journalists (NUJ) has written to Mr Ryan expressing concern that some of those nominated to the boards by the Oireachtas Communications Committee were involved in independent radio and television production and are currently or have provided services to RTÉ.

Following an interview and vetting process, the committee recommended four people for appointment to each board earlier this week, which still have to be ratified by Mr Ryan.

Among the nominees to the RTÉ board were former RTÉ reporter Aileen O'Meara, now an independent radio producer; film and TV producer Stuart Switzer; and producer and media consultant Orlaith Carmody.

Larry Bass of production company Screentime ShinAwiL, which made The Apprenticeand Dragon's Den, and Siobhán Ní Ghadhra of the Telegael media company, were recommended for the positions on the BAI.

NUJ Irish secretary Seamus Dooley said he was concerned about a lack of balance and diversity among those nominated to the boards. "Two of the four nominees ... are independent TV producers and are linked to [lobby group] Screen Producers Ireland."

A spokeswoman for Mr Ryan said the nominees from the communications committee had not yet been brought to Government level for ratification.