The Taoiseach has said he has full confidence in Media Minister Catherine Martin. 

The Minister is due to answer questions before an Oireachtas Media Committee over what's been described as her 'effective sacking' of the chair of the RTÉ Board on live TV last Thursday. 

Speaking ahead of a summit of EU leaders in Paris last night, Leo Varadkar said Minister Martin probably found herself in a 'no-win' situation.

“I have full confidence in Minister Martin, [it’s] a difficult job at the moment but I think she’s handling her brief extremely well,” he said. 

“We intend to appoint a new chairperson of the RTÉ Board as soon as possible, certainly as soon as we can; ideally next week. 

“There are a few people who need to be approached to see if they’re willing to do it.” 

Former chair of the board of RTÉ Siún Ní Raghallaigh, 13-7-23. Image: Leah Farrell / RollingNews.ie

Mr Varadkar said it is incredibly frustrating as a Minister to realise that the information you are being given might not be fully accurate. 

“I know as a Minister who has been in many Departments, if you find yourself in a place where you’re not fully confident you’re getting full and accurate information from a chairperson, that makes it very difficult,” he said. 

The RTÉ Montrose campus in Donnybrook, Dublin. Image: Mark Stedman/RollingNews

Going forward, the Taoiseach said the licence fee needs fundamental reform. 

“One thing that has to happen in the future is we have to look at funding for public service broadcasting as being not just about RTÉ any more,” he said. 

“There are lots of people who can do it and they should be allowed to compete for that funding.” 

Sinn Féin has called for the licence fee to be scrapped entirely and RTÉ to be funded directly by the taxpayer.

Main image: Taoiseach Leo Varadkar. Image: Leah Farrell / RollingNews.ie