RTÉ funding decision to be made in coming weeks, says Varadkar

A decision on additional financial support for RTÉ will be made in the “next few weeks”, Taoiseach Leo Varadkar said.

Varadkar said a long-term view also needs to be taken on how to fund public service broadcasting as a whole, not just RTÉ.

He said that legislation to fund public service broadcasting will be in place by 2025.

RTÉ Trade Union group secretary Cearbhall Ó Síocháin said there is a “tone of vengeance” surrounding RTÉ, and plans to implement a recruitment freeze were never mentioned during discussions between unions and the new director general.

In an email to staff, RTÉ Director General Kevin Bakhurst told staff that RTÉ is introducing a recruitment freeze with “immediate effect” and stopping “all discretionary spending” as a way to preserve cash as they seek clarity on their financial position. 

Discussing the possibility of voluntary redundancies at RTÉ as a cost-saving measure, Varadkar said “they are only worth funding if it results in long-term savings.”

“We have seen that across other public bodies where the number of staff has been reduced, but that only works if the total number of employees goes down.”

“What you can’t have is a voluntary redundancy package and then have those positions backfilled because there’s no saving.”

Varadkar said that there will be further discussions between the Government and RTÉ on their plan for cost savings, after RTÉ requested over €50 million in funding from the Government, after losing more than €20 million in lost licence fee revenue since the RTÉ scandal broke in late June. 

Figures from July and August showed a steep decline in people paying the licence fee, but Varadkar has renewed his call to ensure that people still pay the licence fee.

“Enforcement will continue, there are 32 people whose full-time job is to enforce the TV licence and the fact that a TV licence goes unpaid doesn’t mean that it’s written off,” Varadkar said.

Discussing RTÉ’s request for additional funds, Varadkar said “I’ve seen many times, Government, state agencies or state-owned enterprises, putting up proposals that are designed to be unpopular.”

“There will have to be some discussions and what we’ve asked is that the RTÉ board and executive team put together a plan and we’ll look at that plan, and we’ll see if we can work on it.”

Varadkar recently stated in no uncertain terms that no additional Government funding will be granted to RTÉ unless it sees clear signs of reform at the state broadcaster, saying “we believe that the public won’t accept additional taxpayers’ money being provided to RTÉ without a reform programme.”

RTÉ are going through a “very turbulent time”, Varadkar said, and it needs to be protected.”I believe we need RTÉ. I believe we need a strong RTÉ, particularly when it comes to news and public service broadcasting … we’re a small country. Democracies are under threat all over the world.”

On the other side of the political divide, Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald said she would “err” towards exchequer funding for the national broadcaster.

She said that “profound” governance and cultural issues need to be addressed by RTÉ.

The Dublin Central TD said that “the soundings from the new Director General, and the Board is that that they are prepared for that change, but I think we need to see real evidence of it.”

“I am saying that as a personal preference, we also need to talk to the other broadcasting organisations in the State, but whatever we do, we need to be sure that what we have is sustainable,” she told RTÉ.

Minister for Transport, Environment, Climate and Communications Eamon Ryan said his preference was for RTÉ to remain a media household charge, but said an external payment or the adaptation of the current licence fee could also be considered.

“The final mechanism will be decided by Government in the coming months, in my mind quickly, because what we don’t want are these ongoing committees.”

“They are distracting from the core job which is providing fair and accurate information and entertainment for our people.

“We can’t let RTÉ go down. It’s been in constant controversy, investigations, committee hearings and so on.”

“We need to get back to focused on the core job, which is serving Irish people,” he added.