‘RTE exit deals must be capped and transparent’
Minister wants ban on confidentiality clauses at the national broadcaster
MEDIA Minister Catherine Martin has urged RTE boss Kevin Bakhurst to put a cap on any future exit deals from the broadcaster.
The Green Party TD summoned both the director-general and the chair of the RTE Board Siun Ni Raghallaigh and called on the pair to make public details of golden handshake agreements to top executives.
Minister Martin said she expressed her “concern and frustration” at the ongoing controversy and added it was “undermining the good work” being done to reform RTE and rebuild the public’s trust.
She stressed that “all possible options” needed to be explored for the purpose of clarity and transparency.
Speaking after their meeting yesterday, Minister Martin said: “The DG confirmed to me that he has sought further legal advice as to the levels of disclosure which can be made.
“While I am conscious of the need to respect legal advice, as well as individual employment and privacy rights, I reminded the DG of the important public interest at play which must also be a factor in considering this matter.
COMMITTED
The DG committed to fully examine these proposals
“I also asked he consider all possible options to bring further clarity and transparency.
“The DG advised me that he expects updated legal advice in the coming days and that he has committed to making as much information as possible publicly available at the earliest opportunity.”
“I also impressed on the Chair and director general, that in the context of any possible future severance arrangements, confidentiality agreements should be avoided if at all possible, and that a cap on the levels of settlements made should be introduced.
The DG committed to fully examine these proposals.”
Fine Gael TD and member of the Oireachtas media committee Alan Dillon said the details of all exit packages of all executives dating back to 2016 are to be published.
Mr Bakhurst said he is not going to resign following controversy around the exit arrangements of senior executives.
It comes after it was revealed that former director of strategy Rory Coveney received a payment following his resignation last year, in the same week the director general took on the top job.
Mr Coveney was the “driving force” behind Toy Show The Musical, which recorded €2.2million in losses after a single season in 2022.