6 June – Dermot Ahern is appointed Minister for Department of Communications, Marine and Natural Resources, with responsibility for broadcasting, responsibility for broadcasting having been transferred to this Department from the Department of Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands.[1]
July
No events
August
29 August – Report of the Forum on Broadcasting submitted to government.[1]
December – The television licence fee increases by €43, while the black-and-white licence fee abolished. The government establishes a mechanism to seek an annual increase in the fee, with a five-year review. There is also a commitment to introduce proposals for a commercial television licence fee.[1]
2002–2003 – RTÉ increases its international news coverage with reporters based in Baghdad, northern Iraq, Kuwait, Jordan and Jerusalem, as well as Washington and London correspondents.[1]
2002–2005 – The RTÉ Strategic Plan is introduced.[1]