OPINION: Public service broadcasting essential for a healthy democracy

The ongoing controversies in RTE have dominated the headlines in all forms of media over the past number of weeks.

This is not entirely surprising considering the important role the national broadcaster plays in Irish life and the celebrities involved in the controversies.

Certainly governance in RTE was lax to say the least and the manner in which business, particularly commercial affairs, was conducted leaves a lot to be desired.

Revelations that many at the top of RTE continued to behave as if the Celtic Tiger was still roaring unsurprisingly caused great upset.

The discovery that substantial payments above his normal remuneration were made to one household name at a time when draconian cutbacks were being made at RTE naturally angered staff who were at the coalface of these cutbacks.

The saga has also greatly angered ordinary citizens a great many of whom are struggling to make ends meet during the cost of living crisis.

It is welcome that steps are now being taken to put RTE's house in order though the process is likely to be a long and painful one.

These steps are also hindered by the slow burning nature of the controversy with new revelations emerging virtually every day.

But in the heat of the moment there is a danger of losing sight of the big picture.

Since its establishment in the 1960s RTE has, by and large, been a huge force for good and for change for the better in Irish society.

In its early days it exposed the failings and hypocrisy of a very closed society through investigative programmes and documentaries.

RTE's flagship programme, “The Late Late Show”, under the stewardship of the legendary Gay Byrne, was to the forefront in challenging the accepted norms of the period.

But RTE wasn't just a one man band.

The vast majority of journalists, presenters and researchers were committed to public service broadcasting.

A healthy public service broadcasting sector is vital for a healthy democracy.

One only has to look at state media in countries such as Russia to see the outcome when propaganda is allowed to rule the airwaves.

RTE's past commitment to public service broadcasting must be reinvigorated.

The new Director General Kevin Bakhurst has a huge mountain to climb in ensuring RTE returns to its roots.

In this quest he will have the support of the overwhelming majority of staff at the national broadcaster.

He also deserves the support of the Irish people.

Over the past few weeks there have been calls for people to withhold the payment of their television licence fee.

These calls are ill-judged.

For democracy to survive and thrive in Ireland a healthy public broadcasting service is essential.

For the good of Irish society as a whole we should all hope that RTE gets its house in order and returns to its founding principles.