RTÉ may sell part of Donnybrook campus amid declining licence revenue

James Cox

RTÉ is exploring the possibility of selling off part of its Donnybrook campus to raise revenue.

Director general Kevin Bakhurst is among representatives of the national broadcaster due before the Public Accounts Committee this morning.

Mr Bakhurst will tell the committee that a complete sale of its site in Donnybrook - which had been suggested - is unlikely at this point.

He will tell the PAC that short-term cash reserves are 'solid' but will reiterate the plea for a reform of the public service broadcasting funding model.

He will add that RTÉ is managing the finances "carefully" amid a fall in TV licence fee funding. Media Minister Catherine Martin has revealed the Government is only willing to pay €40 million of this shortfall, meaning RTÉ will have to find a way to save €21 million.

Minister Martin confirmed the State's New Economy and Recovery Authority - known as NewERA - found a €21 million drop in licence fee payments this year, while a further €40 million loss is expected next year.

RTÉ representatives are due before the committee at 9.30am.

The chair of the Oireachtas Public Accounts Committee Brian Stanley has said that if RTÉ representatives do not provide notes from a meeting between Ryan Tubridy’s agent Noel Kelly, former director general Dee Forbes and a legal representative for RTÉ, then the PAC will seek authorisation from the Oireachtas to compel the documents be provided.

Mr Stanley told RTÉ radio’s Morning Ireland that client confidentiality could be waived and the documents provided.

The notes from that meeting were vital to understand the exact details of the deal reached for Ryan Tubridy’s pay. How the terms were “solidified” and how it was “signed off on.”

If the PAC decides to compel RTÉ to produce the notes from that meeting the committee will have to make a request to the Committee for Procedural Privileges, he explained.

Transparency by RTÉ was important, added Mr Stanley. The public will need to know that “things will be done differently” on issues such as pay for RTÉ executives, exit packages, voluntary exit packages along with the station’s dealings with agents.

There was also the “whole breakdown in corporate governance” and RTÉ board appointments along with the “misclassification” of workers.

The PAC’s priority was to secure the future of public sector broadcasting and the 1,800 jobs at RTÉ, he said. It was important for the committee to ensure that there was transparency over how public funds were being spent. - Additional reporting from Vivienne Clarke