RTÉ has asked former executives to waive confidentiality over their exit packages.
Amid mounting pressure on the broadcaster to make their exit packages public, there has been calls for Director General Kevin Bakhurst to be more transparent.
In a statement today, RTÉ confirmed that it has written to the former members of the executive, who departed the organisation since 2016, requesting their consent to waive their right to confidentiality.
The broadcaster has also undertaken to look at bringing forward publication of the IAS 24 Related Party Disclosures figures, normally published each year in its annual report.
These figures relate to transactions with key management personnel (i.e. those persons having authority and responsibility for planning, directing and controlling the activities of the company).
These figures will also include an aggregate statement of termination benefits paid in 2023.
In addition to the updated letter as received from RTÉ’s external legal advisors, RTÉ is also releasing the previously received legal advice as well an independent assurance confirming that RTÉ achieved the best commercial outcome with regard to severance/termination payments made by the station.
The broadcaster has confirmed to the Minister that it is taking external advice with regard to future caps on severance pay and termination agreements, as well as options regarding confidentiality.
To view the original independent legal advice to RTÉ (05.10.23), click here.
To view the updated independent legal advice to RTÉ (21.02.24), click here.
Mr Bakhurst and Chair of the RTÉ Board Siún Ní Raghallaigh met with Minister for Media Catherine Martin earlier this week.
Speaking after their meeting, the Director General said he will not resign over the backlash against the exit packages, as he stands over “entirely what I have done.”
Bakhurst also said they expect to have new legal advice “in the next couple of days” regarding publishing details of exit packages, but added that they have to “respect the law.”
The meeting came after a report over the weekend claimed that RTÉ’s former director of strategy Rory Coveney was paid what appears to have been a year’s salary when he left the organisation last July.
Mr Bakhurst subsequently released a statement addressing the exit packages offered to former executives.
He said: “As I have stated already, RTÉ has previously received legal advice that it is restricted from providing details regarding the departures of individuals from RTÉ. This advice was shared with both the PAC and the JOC.
“However, in the interests of transparency, I can clarify matters with regard to the exits of the four executives who departed RTÉ after I started as Director-General, and I am doing so with their agreement.
“Geraldine O’Leary retired from RTÉ, and her role as Director of Commercial, and did not receive an exit payment. Paula Mullooly decided to leave RTÉ, and her role as Director of Legal Affairs, to pursue another opportunity and did not receive an exit payment.”
“Rory Coveney and I agreed that it was best that he stand down from his role as Director of Strategy. This enabled the beginning of the restructuring of the leadership team and the suppression of his role.”
“Responsibility for Strategy has passed to Adrian Lynch, with no additional compensation, in addition to his substantive role as Director of Audience, Channels and Marketing. Rory’s role became redundant, an exit payment was offered by RTÉ and accepted by Rory, and with no backfill being made RTÉ will recoup that payment by July of this year.
“Following independent mediation, Richard Collins, RTÉ’s former Chief Financial Officer, departed RTÉ by mutual agreement, with a binding confidentiality clause that was agreed to by both sides and in the interest of fairness and respect cannot be breached
“As I have said before, in relation to all the exits, I have sought an update to the legal advice previously received,” he added.
