Declaring any side-deals will be mandatory, Bakhurst tells staff

STAFF at RTÉ have been warned that compliance is mandatory on both its register of interests and register of external activities.

Director general Kevin Bakhurst wrote to staff yesterday to reveal details of the looming registers where staff will have to publicly list their commercial side deals.

The register of external activities will be published by RTÉ every quarter beginning at the start of February. This will apply to all those working across the News, Current Affairs and Content divisions, with staff having to get approval from management for commercial deals and Master of Ceremonies gigs to avoid conflicts of interest.

‘This will introduce a standardised process for those seeking approval to engage in external activities. To underline RTÉ’s commitment to our impartiality, we will publish details of approved activities on a quarterly basis, to include the name of the person, summary details of the activity approved and any payment/benefit in a banded system,’ Mr Bakhurst said.

The director general also said that ‘certain staff and contractors’ will be contacted in the coming days about the register of interests where they will now be required to submit an annual return.

This register of interests will apply to anyone who is an on-air presenter or involved in the production Changes: Kevin Bakhurst of any RTÉ content, who may have a conflict of interest between their involvement with an outside venture and their role in the broadcaster. Mr Bakhurst also strongly underlined that staff cannot use the grounds of RTÉ to promote commercial ventures, after 2FM presenters Lottie Ryan and Doireann Garrihy were found using the campus and studios to promote products on social media. It also emerged last year that GAA pundits appearing on The Sunday Game were using their airtime to plug clothing brands without RTÉ approval.

‘Everyone should also note that it is a fundamental rule that under no circumstances should RTÉ locations, studios, equipment, brands (including programmes), social media links be used to promote outside commercial interests, ventures, or activities and this applies to staff, contractors and invited studio guests, panellists, etc,’ Mr Bakhurst said.

He added that the Interim Leadership Team is considering the establishment of a register of gifts also. Last year, GAA correspondent Marty Morrissey admitted the use of a car on loan from Renault for over five years that he did not declare.