Union slams RTÉ funding cut by government

The National Union of Journalists (NUJ) has strongly condemned the Irish government’s decision to cut funding to RTÉ.

Three years after the Ryan Tubridy payments scandal, RTÉ continues to frustrate the Communications Minister Patrick O’Donovan.

The previous government guaranteed RTÉ €725m over three years.

RTE chief Kevin Bakhurst

They were expecting to get €260m next year under the package, however, only received €240m.

Mr O’Donovan blamed the tighter allocation of funds to his department in the “challenging financial environment” and the slow pace of reform inside RTE. Something that Director General Kevin Bakhurst completely rejects.

“While progress has been made across a number of issues, I am not happy that we have seen sufficient progress in delivering the smaller, more agile organisation that was to be delivered under the strategy,” O'Donovan said.

Reacting to the news, NUJ General Secretary Laura Davison said the €20 million cut exposed the government’s failure to meet its commitment to guarantee a well-funded and independent national broadcaster in Ireland. 

Laura Davison, NUJ general secretary, said:  “This cut threatens RTÉ’s ability to deliver on its programme of change, aimed at securing the future of the national broadcaster.

"While we may not agree entirely with how RTÉ is proposing to structure itself, we are aligned on the need to maintain a properly funded, independent national broadcaster. RTÉ provides a vital public service, including holding government to account, but now finds itself in a seriously regressive position where yet again it faces financial uncertainty - which in turn causes stress and anxiety for our members.

Today’s decision is therefore alarming."

RTÉ is supposed to cut its workforce by 400 staff over five years, but that target is in doubt as less people volunteered for redundancy than expected.

“At the end of the day, the RTÉ board are the employers, and that will be a matter for them,” Minister O'Donovan said when asked specifically about forced exits.

RTÉ now wants a meeting with the minister, saying the reduction in funding is “one we had not anticipated” and would affect the five-year strategy.

“If the three-year multiannual agreement will no longer be honoured – we now have some important decisions to make,” Kevin Bakhurst, head of RTÉ said.