Expert review of of RTÉ’s voluntary exit package to be published on Thursday

By Cate McCurry, PA

An independent review of of RTÉ’s voluntary exit package is to be published on Thursday, the Minister for Communications has said.

The external review is understood to reveal details of the voluntary exit package for Geraldine O’Leary, the former head of commercial at RTÉ, and Breda O’Keeffe, the former chief financial officer.

During a heated debate between Green Party leader Eamon Ryan and Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald over the future funding of the national broadcaster, Mr Ryan said that the report will be published on Thursday while two final reports on RTÉ governance issues are due next month.

Mr Ryan came under pressure from Ms McDonald about the government’s position on whether the TV licence fee model should be reformed.

With tens of thousands now refusing to pay the TV license it's clear it needs to be scrapped & replaced with direct exchequer funding

No clarity on the license's future from Minister Eamon Ryan though, who chose to talk absolute rubbish instead of answering the question pic.twitter.com/fk13ZCOEGT

— Sinn Féin (@sinnfeinireland) January 31, 2024

Ms McDonald called for the TV licence to be “scrapped” and replaced with direct Exchequer funding.

The Dublin TD said the recent debacle around the Toy Show The Musical has “rocked people’s trust and confidence” in the national broadcaster.

She said that some 13,000 people were summoned before the courts last year for failure to pay the TV licence.

“The government has promised for years to come up with a new model to replace the TV licence and yet, here you are, plodding along in the midst of confusion and a licence that now does not enjoy widespread public support,” Ms McDonald said.

“The public want decisive action on this minister. For our part, Sinn Féin would abolish the TV licence and invest Exchequer funding into supporting public service media in Ireland to put it on a sustainable footing.

“This, of course, is in line with the recommendations of the future of Media Commission Report, a report that’s been sitting on Government’s desk for two years now.”

She said the public wants a “modern funding model that works and delivers value for money”.

Green Party leader Eamon Ryan said a decision on a future funding model for RTÉ will be made once all the reports into the RTÉ governance crisis has been published.

“That process will conclude in the coming weeks,” he added.

“I think we have another report tomorrow, initiated by RTÉ, on the governance of the old severance payments.

“Then the two final reports on the governance issue, due in February, will allow us to come to a conclusion of that process [and] answer how to future payments and supports for RTE, and indeed for other major organisations.

“Be it through direct Exchequer payments or household payment or whatever other arrangements that we will decide upon.

“Clarity can only come when Government has made that decision.

Mr Ryan also accused Ms McDonald of insinuating that the public should not pay the TV licence in the interim period, before the government makes a decision on a reformed funding model.

Mr Ryan added: “But I think any fair assessment would say in RTÉ, and other media organisations, particularly in charge of current affairs, that by and large, we are well served with the media, which is independent, fair and not biased, not deserving to be attacked by legal challenge or by other public commentary which does them down, which I’ve heard too much from our political system, in my mind.”

Ms McDonald rejected Mr’s Ryan’s accusations that she is encouraging people not to pay the licence fee, saying she too has paid the licence fee.

She said: “Well I’ve heard some bluster in my time, but that really was now a bravura performance of absolute rubbish – sound and fury, signifying nothing.

“My god, it’s remarkable how one person can talk so much and say so very, very little in response to a very straightforward question.”