Little compares the RTE chair job to ‘catching a falling knife’
FORMER RTÉ journalist and entrepreneur Mark Little has ruled himself out of contention to be the new chair of the RTÉ Board, as the Taoiseach says he expects the position will be filled next week.
Leo Varadkar has said the Government is moving to appoint a new chair to the Board of RTÉ, ‘as soon as possible, certainly as soon as we can – ideally next week’.
It comes after the chair of RTÉ for just 14 months, Siún Ní Raghallaigh, resigned from the position hours after Media Minister Catherine Martin refused to express confidence in her on live television.
Ms Ní Raghallaigh issued her notice of resignation just before 1am last Friday, after the Media Minister appeared on RTÉ’s Prime Time.
Mr Varadkar said the Government is moving to appoint a new person to the head of the State board as soon as possible. He said: ‘There are a few people who need to be approached to see if they’re willing to do it.’
Former Prime Time presenter and Storyful founder Mr Little was asked on RTÉ television on Monday night by presenter Katie Hannon whether he would be up for the job.
He said: ‘No, I always think in RTÉ taking a position like that is like catching the In the mix: Elaine Geraghty of Ardmore Studios falling knife. A lot of people are cheering on the knife.’ Mr Little was RTÉ’s first Washington Correspondent in the 1990s and left RTÉ in 2010 to launch Storyful. He was also the head of Twitter Ireland. ‘In my case I am old enough to know I do not have the skill set for this job, so I’m not there. ‘It will probably be someone who has the skills of a firefighter, a diplomat and a politician but most importantly I hope it’s someone with a vision about what’s bigger than just the row we have at the moment.
‘It’s not me, but I would love to support, in any way I can, the next person who is in that position.’
Other names associated with the job include Professor Kevin Rafter, who recently stepped down as chair of the Arts Council – he was previously a presenter and political correspondent for RTÉ.
Former Northern Editor Tommie Gorman has also been mentioned.
Another name in the mix is managing director of Ardmore Film and TV Studios in Bray, and Troy Studios in Limerick, Elaine Geraghty.