22 May 2013, 15:14
The Oireachtas Joint Committee on Transport and Communications this morning met with Noel Curran, Director General of RTÉ and his senior management for a wide-ranging discussion on RTÉ’s budgetary position.
22 May 2013
The meeting had a particular focus on the pay levels to the most high profile contracted and staff broadcasters.
Committee Chairman Tom Hayes TD says: “We thank RTÉ senior managers for a detailed and candid discussion on the broadcaster’s progress in curbing its costs. We heard that the company is working towards breaking even this year, if favourable economic conditions prevail in the second half of the year. Our Committee acknowledged the progress made by RTÉ management in reducing its operating costs since the economic downtown in 2008, reductions which Mr Curran stated were ‘almost unique’ across the Irish semi-state sector.
“The issue of salaries paid to its top presenters was widely raised by Committee Members. We take on board the efforts to reduce the salaries paid to RTÉ’s top talent, but a number of Members pointed to the fact that many of those salaries remained high. While appreciating the distinct public service remit of RTÉ, some Members pointed to the perception that the commercial sector in Ireland runs relatively leaner operations and argued that more scope existed for cost reductions. When the current round of negotiations are concluded, Mr Curran agreed to he would furnish the revised pay rates for RTÉ’s top talent. As an issue raised frequently by the constituents we serve and in keeping with our oversight role of public bodies, this Committee will continue to monitor the pay levels of RTÉ’s highest earners carefully and reasonably.”
“The Programme for Government envisages a household broadcasting charge for each home in the country to replace the existing TV licence fee. As a Committee, we met with independent broadcasting representatives, who made the case for their sector receiving a share of such a fund, which it is anticipated might be about €20 million more than the funding currently provided by the licence fee. We heard Mr Curran argue RTÉ’s case for such funding and take on board the view that this increase is not in itself a panacea to the financial challenges faced in both the public and commercial sectors. As a Committee, we welcome the willingness by RTÉ to open the lines of communication, particularly with the rural commercial radio sector, to assess any opportunities for collaboration that might exist between stations.”
For further information contact:
Paul Hand,
Communications Unit,
Houses of the Oireachtas,
Leinster House,
Dublin 2
P: +3531 618 4484
M: +353 87 694 9926
Committee Membership
Deputies
Michael Colreavy, Sinn Féin
Timmy Dooley, Fianna Fáil
Dessie Ellis, Sinn Féin
Terence Flanagan, Fine Gael
Tom Fleming, Independent
Noel Harrington, Fine Gael
Tom Hayes, Fine Gael (Chairman)
Seán Kenny, Labour
Eamonn Moloney, Labour
Michael Moynihan, Fianna Fáil
Patrick O’Donovan, Fine Gael
John O’Mahony, Fine Gael (Vice-Chairman)
Ann Phelan, Labour
Brian Walsh, Fine Gael
Senators
Terry Brennan
Sean D. Barrett
Eamonn Coghlan
Paschal Mooney
Ned O’Sullivan
John Whelan