RTÉ 'stuck in the past'
Last update - Sunday, July 1, 2012, 14:03 By Catherine Reilly

Minister for Justice says broadcaster failing to engage with multicultural Ireland today

JUSTICE MINISTER Alan Shatter has accused RTÉ of a complete failure to reflect and engage with intercultural Ireland in a damning appraisal of the under-fire public service broadcaster.
The comments by Minister Shatter – who accused RTÉ of being 30 years behind the times – were made during his address at the launch of Near FM’s intercultural series Culture Shots on 13 June in Dublin.
“I don’t yet believe RTÉ has adequately recognised the changing Ireland, the intercultural nature of Ireland, the different strands of backgrounds that we have in Ireland and the richness of the backgrounds,” said Minister Shatter in his address.
“If we hear anything about integration or issues relating to new communities it’s usually in the context of conflict or difficulty as opposed to the positive contributions that are being made. It’s time we saw faces on RTÉ which represent the Ireland of 2012 rather than the Ireland of 1980.”
Minister Shatter has since discussed the issue with Minister for Communications Pat Rabbitte, according to the Department of Justice on 26 June, but no information was provided on the outcome of this.
A spokesperson for RTÉ, speaking on the same day, told Metro Éirean