Catherine Martin has called on RTÉ to introduce a cap on future settlements, after her meeting with the Director General today.
The Minister for Media met with Kevin Bakhurst and Chair of the RTÉ Board, Siún Ní Raghallaigh, amid mounting pressure on the broadcaster to make their exit packages public.
In a statement, she said: “Today I met with the Chair of the RTÉ Board, Siún Ni Raghallaigh, and Director General, Kevin Bakhurst.”
“I expressed my concern and frustration at how the ongoing controversy in relation to exit packages is undermining the good work that the Chair and DG are undertaking to reform RTÉ and rebuild trust in our national broadcaster,” she continued.
“The DG confirmed to me that he has sought further legal advice as to the levels of disclosure which can be made.
“While I am conscious of the need to respect legal advice, as well as individual employment and privacy rights, I reminded the DG of the important public interest at play which must also be a factor in considering this matter. I also asked that he consider all possible options to bring further clarity and transparency to these matters.
“The DG advised me that he expects updated legal advice in the coming days, and that he has committed to making as much information as possible publicly available at the earliest opportunity.”
“I also impressed on the Chair and DG, that in the context of any possible future severance arrangements, confidentiality agreements should be avoided if at all possible, and that a cap on the levels of settlements made should be introduced. The DG committed to fully examine these proposals.
“This is a critical juncture for RTÉ, and developing a new culture of openness and fairness is essential if trust in the national broadcaster is to be restored,” she added.
Speaking after their meeting this morning, 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.
