‘CONTRACTOR’ KILLERS AT RTE

Troubled station’s finances face huge double shake-up

THE controversial contractor approach to paying top stars will be overhauled and RTE’s finances will be examined by the Comptroller and Auditor General under proposals being brought to Government today.

The recommendations are among 106 which will be presented to cabinet by Media Minister Catherine Martin following two damning reviews of how the state broadcaster is run.

The reports, titled A Review of Governance and Culture and A Review of Contractor Fees, HR and Other Matters, were commissioned following the payment scandal at the broadcaster last year and also say RTE’s allowance system needs to be thoroughly reformed.

They found that, in October last year, some 1,068 different allowances were being paid to 760 RTÉ staff across nine different categories.

However, it is the potential shake up of RTE’s infamous contractor system which could have the most impact.

Figures

Most of the broadcaster’s biggest names, including Joe Duffy, Claire Byrne and Miriam O’Callaghan, are registered as contractors and paid through their individual media companies.

Most recent figures for 2022 show Duffy was paid €351,000, while Claire Byrne earned €320,833 and Prime Time presenter Miriam O’Callaghan was the fourth highest paid at the broadcaster, with her annual pay remaining at €263,500.

While it is unclear whether the reports will call for the practice to be banned outright, some significant changes in the long-established arrangement are expected.

For years, RTE have insisted that high-earning figures such as Ryan Tubridy were on massive pay packets to prevent them moving elsewhere.

However, Tubridy’s departure and subsequent hiring by Virgin Radio in the UK on a reported five figure deal have cast such claims in stark light.

The reports also recommend that any further severance schemes are both fair and equitable after scandals over how these were given out without the correct authorisation.

Earlier this year, it emerged that an exit package worth €450,000 and paid to RTÉ’s former chief financial officer Breda O’Keeffe was not approved correctly.

In February, RTE boss Kevin Bakhurst was forced to declare that he is not going to resign over the controversy around the exit arrangements of senior executives.

The row broke out after it emerged former director of strategy Rory Coveney received a payment, reportedly in the region of €200,000, after he quit in 2023 in the same week that Bakhurst took the top job.

In addition to the two reports, Minister

Martin will also publish findings from forensic accountants Mazars who were appointed to examine the state broadcaster’s now infamous barter account.

The barter account was used to purchase nearly €5,000 worth of flip-flops for a summer party, a client trip to the Rugby World Cup in Japan, and controversially to pay €150,000 to former Late Late Show presenter Ryan Tubridy.