Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 6 October 2020
308. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Media, Tourism, Arts, Culture, Sport and the Gaeltacht the breakdown of salaries, expenses and so on paid to Board members of RTÉ in each of the years 2016 to 2019 and to date in 2020. [28719/20]
View answerAs Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media, I have responsibility for the governance of RTÉ to ensure the company is fully compliant with the Code of Practice for the Governance of State bodies and the governance functions included in the legislative and regulatory framework for broadcasting.
The RTÉ Board are appointed under Section 81 of the Broadcasting Act 2009 for a period not exceeding five years. The Act provides for a 12 member Board, to be appointed by the Government.
Section 84 of the Broadcasting Act provides for the payment of remuneration and expenses to members of the Board, out of monies at the disposal of the corporation, as determined by the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform and the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media.
In November 2019, in the context of cost reduction initiatives identified as part of the revised RTÉ strategy 2020-2024, the Board members announced their intention to waive their fees, effective 1 January 2020.
The RTÉ Board fees and expenses are outlined in the table below:
|
2016 (€’000) |
2017(€’000) |
2018(€’000) |
2019(€’000) |
2020 to date (€’000) |
|
|
Board Member Fees |
146 |
157 |
137 |
139 |
0* |
|
Expenses (Travel and Subsistence) |
41 |
40 |
24 |
26 |
4.4 |
|
Total |
187 |
197 |
161 |
165 |
4.4** |
*In 2020, the RTÉ Board agreed to waive all fees due to them so no fees have been paid this year.
** In total, €4,387 has been paid in expenses to Board members relating to expenses incurred in 2019.
