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A LABOUR SENATOR has called for the resignation of RTÉ chairman Tom Savage following last week’s meeting of senior management from the broadcaster and the BAI with the Oireachtas communications committee.
The meeting was held to discuss issues arising from the Fr Kevin Reynolds defamation case.
Addressing the meeting last week, Savage said that RTÉ accepted the findings of the BAI inquiry into the Mission to Prey programme and could offer no excuse for the serious lapse that led to the error concerning Fr Reynolds.
He also said that the RTÉ board is undertaking an unprecedented examination of the broadcaster’s programme-making culture to prevent similar mistakes in the future.
However, Labour Senator John Whelan has accused Savage of “spin doctoring” at last week’s meeting:
It is abundantly clear to me from his opening statement that what we were being served up was more Pontius Pilate hand-wringing from a PR professional and a maestro of the art of spin doctoring.
“We now have a farcical proposition that the effective head of RTÉ, its commander-in-chief, is
washing his hands of any responsibility for the systematic failures; poor morale; low standards and in certain elements the group-think culture spawned by the cult of the clique and cronyism.”
“These problems and corporate failures do not emanate from the bottom up but infuse the State
broadcaster from the top down,” Whelan added.
The senator says he will be seconding TD Mattie McGrath’s calls for Savage’s resignation when the committee meets with the chairman on Tuesday.
RTÉ director general Noel Curran is also expected to participate in the meeting.
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Another brilliant idea that I didn’t think of
**shakes head**
How can it send an SMS text or relay your position if you are outside phone range at sea?
It doesnt relay position. it advises overdue. Position is available as last know position visible to the network which is pretty accurate if coastal
If you wish to minimise the “Search” in Search and Rescue, then dont play with apps, just use approved Marine Radio Safety equipment – the IMO say so and they are the International Authority on such matters:
http://www.imo.org/blast/mainframe.asp?topic_id=69&doc_id=581#mobiles
Mobile phones should not be promoted for use in maritime emergencies. VHF, EPIRBS, SART’s are the approved method of relaying your distress. This app may cause more harm than good with users relying solely on this disregarding the fact that mobile coverage is needed. The tit Bon homme tragedy shows just how deadly disregarding the correct methods on favor of a mobile phone can be. This goes against all training in good seamanship.
All proven points bit I think this app is geared towards more inland and coastal water users such as canoes, small day boays, leisure boat users, who may not have a vhf on board or higher, so the coverage may not be an issue and having used it you pre program your course and your due arrival time and if you go over the allotted time then the main system alerts a number you give to raise the alarm, they then ring the coast guard and with a little help from some tracking the coast guard would have a fair idea where you might be….anything which can help narrow a search area can cut down a response time….it’s a handy free app for those who want a bit of safety but can’t afford, in these times we live in to have a full marine communications centre on their boat
I agree it’s a handy aid but this sort of promotion is not relaying any of the dangers related with its use to inexperienced mariners. It would be more prudent to encourage people to carry a relatively cheap handheld VHF. There are always issues when it comes to the use of mobiles for such things. Batteries don’t last long on smartphones, contact numbers input don’t receive the text for whatever reason etc. No coverage, coverage but no Internet. At least with the use of VHF the mayday is immediate and all vessels in the area can respond immediately. Mobile phone usage is NOT encourage within the maritime community.
All I’m saying is yes it’s a useful aid but much more reliable resources should be focused on, and the dangers of mobile phone usage really need to be highlighted. I just feel it could actually increase the response time to an emergency.
Michelle – you Dad in his posts misses the point that the phone doesnt send the sms messages – its the server. So you could even leave you phone on the quay side and the texts would still be sent out at the right time to the right people and all you trip data incl whos onboard, where going, lifejackets carried, etc etc will be available to the rescue services including all your historic voyage patterns. Indeed this app will work best when combined with an EPIRB or PLB. Gary should have accepted an invite to attend the public briefing I would have thought?
Chris, firstly these are my own opinions. I’m not sure if you are aware, but I am a seafarer, qualified to chief mate with a BSc(hons) in Nautical Science, so when it comes to safety of life at sea I’m more than qualified to form my own opinions on such matters. You seem to be missing my point also, I am saying its a useful aid, but the approved and tested means are what the coastguard should be promoting for water related activities. You will find that most maritime organisations will not promote the use of mobile phones in maritime safety.
Agreed. But thats not what it does. look at what it does – dont assume its a comms device. its not
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