New RTE director-general concedes broadcaster ‘may have to become smaller’
R
TE’s new director-general has conceded the broadcaster might should change into smaller going ahead as he declined to rule out future redundancies.
Kevin Bakhurst additionally acknowledged the potential for extra damning revelations to emerge about Ireland’s embattled public service broadcaster.
In his first main act as RTE boss, Mr Bakhurst stood down the broadcaster’s government board and changed it with a brief interim management crew as he moved to revive confidence within the crisis-hit organisation.
RTE has been reeling because it emerged final month that it under-reported the wage paid to star presenter Ryan Tubridy and didn’t disclose 345,000 euro of extra funds to him between 2017 and 2022.
The furore has since widened amid additional disclosures about RTE’s inner monetary, accounting and governance practices and its expenditure on company hospitality for promoting purchasers.
On his first morning within the job, Mr Bakhurst introduced a collection of modifications in response to what he described because the “shameful” revelations which have emerged in current weeks.
On Tuesday, Tubridy and his agent Noel Kelly are to look earlier than two parliamentary committees probing the affair.
Fielding media questions on Monday afternoon at RTE headquarters in south Dublin, Mr Bakhurst stated Tubridy’s future on the organisation remained undecided and signalled his destiny could possibly be decided by what emerges on the two extremely anticipated hearings of the Media Committee and Public Accounts Committee.
RTE operates on a twin funding mannequin, with the vast majority of its income secured from a licence payment and the remaining generated from promoting income.
The Government has paused discussions on a brand new long-term funding association till the present disaster abates.
Mr Bakhurst urged anybody fascinated with not paying their licence payment in response to the scandal to take a look at the standard of programmes he stated RTE continued to supply.
The skilled media government, who beforehand labored at RTE earlier than changing into group director at Ofcom, stated the Irish broadcaster might should slim down sooner or later.
“We have to look at all services, we have to look at everything we do and what we can afford to carry on doing and it may be that RTE needs to be smaller in the years to come,” he stated.
“I mean, my immediate priority is to stabilise where we are, to rebuild trust.”
The Irish authorities has already introduced two separate exterior critiques of RTE and likewise moved to ship in a forensic auditor to look at the broadcaster’s accounts.
Mr Bakhurst, who stated his 250,000 euro a 12 months wage was lower than he was paid at Ofcom, predicted that additional uncomfortable disclosures might emerge from the collection of probes into RTE.
“I suspect there is more to come because we are trying to crawl over everything,” he stated.
“And when we discover stuff, we will make it transparent. We’ve got a forensic accountant coming in from the Government. I suspect there may be more stuff to come out. But when it comes out, all I can say is we will put it out in the public domain. I don’t want to say there’s nothing more because I genuinely don’t think that’s probably right.”
Mr Bakhurst stated he wished to take a look at points which were flagged round how sure staff at RTE are handled.
He stated he wished to drive down pay charges for prime on-air expertise however, on the prospect of rises for different decrease pay workers, he stated they wanted to be “realistic” in regards to the potential for widespread uplifts given the “constrained financial environment”.
He did nonetheless sign an intent to behave on issues round maternity pay and versatile working preparations.
The new director normal stated he couldn’t promise workers there could be no redundancies.
“I said to them I would do my utmost to make sure there are not redundancies and, if there are, there’ll be an open and fair process around it, respectful of staff and liaising with unions,” he stated.
“I’d love to be able to give a guarantee because I know job security is the most important thing to most people. But, you know, what I did say was knowing the reality of our financial situation, I can’t take anything off the table, I’m not going to promise anything that I can’t deliver.”
The new boss additionally confirmed he had recused himself from an examination of a automotive mortgage association involving RTE sports activities reporter Marty Morrissey attributable to his friendship with the broadcaster.
Morrissey apologised final week for collaborating in an “informal” association the place he used a Renault automotive after emceeing a dozen occasions for the automotive model.
Earlier on Monday, Mr Bakhurst introduced the substitute of RTE’s government board with a brand new interim management crew.
Former director-general Dee Forbes resigned two weeks in the past. She was initially attributable to depart put up final week, and Mr Bakhurst had already been appointed as her successor earlier than the current disaster broke.
RTE’s director of technique Rory Coveney introduced his resignation on Sunday.
On Monday, RTE’s industrial director, Geraldine O’Leary, introduced she was taking early retirement with fast impact.
Chief monetary officer Richard Collins has been changed in that position and his long-term future at RTE is topic to discussions with the brand new director normal.
Mr Bakhurst introduced a number of different measures on his first morning on the job.
In respect of funds, he stated all vital choices will now should be agreed by the entire management crew, with a document of discussions resulting in the choices being compiled.
“There can be no repeat of the siloed and, at times, secretive decision-making that has been at the root of the shameful events of the past weeks. As custodians of public money, our financial integrity must be on a par with our editorial integrity,” he stated in an e-mail to workers on Monday morning.
Mr Bakhurst stated he was additionally expediting the institution of a register of pursuits for employees and contractors. In this regard, RTE managers can even be requested to supply readability on any potential breaches of journalism or content material tips.
The new director normal stated he would additionally oversee a “culture change” on the broadcaster. He stated he was initiating a overview of roles, grades, pay and gender equality. He additionally pledged to enhance communications with workers and improve their enter in decision-making.
In his e-mail to workers, Mr Bakhurst stated: “Like you, I have been appalled by recent events and the impact it has had on the public perception of RTE, the impact on the trust the public places in us, and the impact it has had on you all.
“I look forward to working with Siun Ni Raghallaigh (chair of oversight board) and the RTE board as we collectively set out to rebuild trust in RTE, inside and outside, starting from today.
“I know that all of you are deeply upset and angry.
“RTE is full of talented and hard-working people who remain committed to delivering a vital public service to our audiences, and you have been let down by RTE management.
“I have heard many of your concerns already and I will continue to listen to what you have to say.”
Chair of RTE’s oversight board Ms Ni Raghallaigh welcomed the preliminary measures taken by Mr Bakhurst.
“They are the first steps in an ongoing process of change that will last for many months,” she stated.
Irish Media Minister Catherine Martin additionally recommended the assertion from Mr Bakhurst.
“Confidence in RTE starts with its own staff and board. And from there it can start to build trust with the Oireachtas (parliament), its audience, the independent production sector and the public,” she stated.
The RTE Trade Union Group (TUG) and the National Union of Journalist additionally welcomed Mr Bakhurst’s actions.