THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE of TV3 has accused the Minister for Communications of not listening to the Broadcast Authority of Ireland (BAI).

David McRedmond was speaking at yesterday’s launch of the BAI’s 2014-2016 strategy statement, where he sought assurances from the BAI that it would make decisions independently.

McRedmond said that the scheduling of a press conference by Pat Rabbitte at the same time as the strategy launch flew in the face of the BAI’s hopes to publicise the consultation of their strategy.

“I was stopped on the way in here by TV3, supporting the idea that we should be publicising this consultation, but they had to run off because the minister has scheduled a press conference on the broadcasting charge,” said McRedmond.

That makes me wonder to what extent does the minister listen to the BAI?

The TV3 chief went on to say that the Department of Communications, and Minister Rabbite, of showing “absolutely no support” for the independent television sector.

We have a BAI that is an independent regulator, but a Department which isn’t listening and is acting solely in favour of its own broadcasters.

BAI chairman Bob Collins said that he could give an “absolute assurance” about the independence of the BAI, adding that the authority would be “undiluted” by influence.

He added that he could not, however, guarantee the impact of the BAI.

A Department spokesperson said “All three assertions attributed to Mr McRedmond are incorrect.”

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