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Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: The Role of Media in Climate Action: Discussion (8 Oct 2024)

Brian Leddin: I have received apologies from Deputy Paul Murphy. This morning's meeting will be held over two sessions. The purpose of the first session is to have a discussion on the role of media in climate action, particularly with respect to the impact and regulation of advertising that promotes fossil fuels. We will have a second session at 12.30 p.m., which will be a discussion on progress on the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: The Role of Media in Climate Action: Discussion (8 Oct 2024)

Brian Leddin: That has been clarified. The Senator can come in shortly. I thank Dr. Nordrum for his opening statement. I call Ms McCarthy from RTÉ to deliver her opening statement.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: The Role of Media in Climate Action: Discussion (8 Oct 2024)

Brian Leddin: I thank Ms McCarthy. I am somewhat uncomfortable with the lack of attention to advertising in her statement. There was one mention of it. I understand Mr. O'Callaghan will answer in respect of advertising, but I would have thought that her statement would really focus on the challenge relating to advertising and climate. As politicians, we regularly go on national media, including...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: The Role of Media in Climate Action: Discussion (8 Oct 2024)

Brian Leddin: I should acknowledge the great work done in RTÉ with respect to programming and treating climate generally. Fantastic work has been done but if we are not looking at the advertising piece and how consumer behaviour is affected, we are really missing a trick. I would like to get into it and it is supposed to be the primary focus of this meeting. I invite Mr. Deans to speak now, please.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: The Role of Media in Climate Action: Discussion (8 Oct 2024)

Brian Leddin: I will hone in on the responsibility of RTÉ as a commercial semi-State body. Is Mr. Deans saying that to some degree RTÉ's hands are tied and that it has to maximise the revenue it would get? RTÉ needs to be funded and that is a live debate at the moment. What discretion does Mr. Deans have and what protocols are in place to give him, as commercial director, the discretion...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: The Role of Media in Climate Action: Discussion (8 Oct 2024)

Brian Leddin: I accept that but can RTÉ go beyond the rules? Can RTÉ take a position or is it mandated to maximise the revenue from advertising within the bounds of the rules?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: The Role of Media in Climate Action: Discussion (8 Oct 2024)

Brian Leddin: As a commercial semi-State entity, RTÉ is somewhat prevented from going further than the rules as they are set down. Is that correct?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: The Role of Media in Climate Action: Discussion (8 Oct 2024)

Brian Leddin: I thank Senator Dooley. I am reading the submission from Purpose Disruptors, which was before the committee previously. It pointed out that UN Secretary General António Guterres said this year, "I urge every country to ban advertising from fossil fuel companies". Dr. Nordrum's position is quite consistent with that of the Secretary General of the United Nations.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: The Role of Media in Climate Action: Discussion (8 Oct 2024)

Brian Leddin: I am mindful of time. As I said, the main focus of the meeting is advertising rather than the content and programming. Most would acknowledge the work RTÉ does in that area.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: The Role of Media in Climate Action: Discussion (8 Oct 2024)

Brian Leddin: Deputy Bruton had a question on the advertising.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: The Role of Media in Climate Action: Discussion (8 Oct 2024)

Brian Leddin: I will take the electric vehicle example Mr. Deans highlighted.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: The Role of Media in Climate Action: Discussion (8 Oct 2024)

Brian Leddin: An electric Range Rover is not a very efficient machine. It is quite carbon intensive if we look at the primary energy that is used to make it in the first instance and the primary energy relating to the grid as well. Although it might be an electric vehicle, that should not really be acceptable if we are seeing it being advertised as such.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: The Role of Media in Climate Action: Discussion (8 Oct 2024)

Brian Leddin: Sure.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: The Role of Media in Climate Action: Discussion (8 Oct 2024)

Brian Leddin: We have had many sessions in this room on the challenge of transport emissions. We know that the trend of the past 15 years across Europe is towards-----

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: The Role of Media in Climate Action: Discussion (8 Oct 2024)

Brian Leddin: -----SUVs and bigger, heavier vehicles. Even if they are electric, there is still a climate impact. It is not good enough to say that because they are electric vehicles, they are good. There has to be a more nuanced understanding in that regard.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: The Role of Media in Climate Action: Discussion (8 Oct 2024)

Brian Leddin: I thank the witnesses and Deputy Whitmore. If those from Irish Doctors for the Environment want to come in on any of the questions, even if they are directed to RTÉ, they should feel free to indicate and vice versa. If RTÉ wants to come in on a question that is directed to Irish Doctors for the Environment, witnesses may raise their hands and I will bring them in. We have about...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: The Role of Media in Climate Action: Discussion (8 Oct 2024)

Brian Leddin: Senator O'Reilly's question is a good one. Is RTÉ chasing popularity rather than what is important?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: The Role of Media in Climate Action: Discussion (8 Oct 2024)

Brian Leddin: Briefly, because I want to let colleagues in and we have only 20 minutes left.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: The Role of Media in Climate Action: Discussion (8 Oct 2024)

Brian Leddin: I must move on to be fair to colleagues. I hope RTÉ in the remaining 20 minutes will address the point made by the delegation from the Irish Doctors for the Environment that the very important story only lasted four hours on the front page and there seems to have been no reporting before and after on the same issue.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: The Role of Media in Climate Action: Discussion (8 Oct 2024)

Brian Leddin: The Senator must be mindful of her time.