Transparency and public confidence in RTÉ more important than confidentiality agreements, says TD

Vivienne Clarke

While non-disclosure agreements are “sacrosanct”, Fianna Fáil TD Christopher O’Sullivan has said that sometimes the issue of transparency and public confidence is more important.

Mr O’Sullivan’s comments come amid the fallout of revelations from RTÉ regarding exit packages paid to former senior executives.

Appearing before the Oireachtas Media Committee last week, it was revealed that RTÉ’s former chief financial officer Breda O’Keeffe received an exit package of €450,000.

RTÉ director general Kevin Bakhurst said he could not share the details of exit packages received by other departed senior executives due to confidentiality agreements.

The matter has again raised questions surrounding transparency at the national broadcaster.

Speaking on RTÉ radio’s Morning Ireland, Mr O’Sullivan said the matter raised the issue of culpability, as there seemed to be no consequences within RTÉ.

It was amazing, he added, that when an exit package was being agreed, that the amount decided upon did not factor in the consequences of poor situations, such as the losses incurred by Toy Show The Musical.

Mr O’Sullivan acknowledged that some might argue that an exit payment for RTÉ’s former strategy director Rory Coveney, who headed the ill-fated musical, was cheaper than dismissing him and potentially having a case go to the Workplace Relations Commission.

It emerged over the weekend that Mr Coveney received an exit package equivalent to around one year’s salary when he left the broadcaster last July.

“I accept that non-disclosure clauses are pretty much sacrosanct,” Mr O’Sullivan said, but added that he thought the person’s performance would be taken into account when an agreement was reached.

“I think in terms of some of the new directors we’re talking about here, their performances certainly are held into question.”

The morale among everyday staff in RTÉ is now at an all-time low, the Cork South West TD said. “They’re going through the daily grind every day. They’re finding this incredibly difficult.”

He added: “At the end of the day, are we really saying that there are no consequences and penalties for underperformance in a position, and that there are no consequences?”

Mr O’Sullivan said transparency is very important, adding that he fears the upcoming investigations surrounding the culture of governance in RTÉ and how contract workers were treated is going to continue “this whole saga”.

He added that people are sick of the drip feed of information coming from RTÉ.