State broadcaster RTÉ belongs to the public and must be accountable to the public, according to a draft charter published by the Minister for Communications today.
Mr Dermot Ahern announced the publication of the Draft Public Service Broadcasting Charter today as part of measures agreed last December including the increase in the licence fee.
The charter asserts that RTÉ news reporting will be undertaken "from a variety of perspectives" and that events should not be Dublin-focused only.
It says that the station will actively support the use of the Irish language through the production of suitable programming and that programming shall be socially inclusive, reflecting the lives and concerns of all social strata in Ireland.
"The introduction of the charter is a key element in my ongoing programme of public service broadcasting reform," Mr Ahern said.
"For their part RTÉ must be accountable to the licence payer for the service they provide.
"The charter will set out clear parameters in this regard and the consultation process will afford the general public the means to have an input into the composition of the charter".
The Minister will start a public consultation process where submissions will be accepted from interested parties and the general public. An online forum will be established on the Department's website ( www.dcmnr.ie).
Following the consultation the charter will finalised, brought before Cabinet and published.
