RTÉ admits paying Tubridy €345,000 more than declared

tayto lover · 11-08-2023 06:05PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120964682#Comment_120964682

Something very odd here??

Interim Deputy Director-General Adrian Lynch told Independent TD Peter Fitzpatrick that Ryan Tubridy is being paid while negotiations are suspended | Live updates https://rte.ie/b/1391561

retalivity · 11-08-2023 06:19PM

When is the rte autumn schedule announced? You know, they get 40/50 of the 'stars' into the rds for photo ops and with a load of wine, it'll be good craic to see who shows up for it this yeara

MrMusician18 · 11-08-2023 06:22PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120961156#Comment_120961156

I think that the license fee drop os only loosely tied to Tubridy. If he returns I expect the fee revenue to continue to drop but if he's dumped I don't expect licence fee revenue to bounce back either.

This debacle is the grit in which opposition to the direction RTE has taken in the past say 10 years has coalesced around. Fundamentally, there is a significant minority that do not trust RTE, particularly it's news and current affairs output and they consider that the organisation is pushing a progressive editorial agenda rather than unbiased fact based news output. Those license fee payers are not returning now with or without Tubridy. Even they don't make up a majority, you don't have to be when the organisation needs the money from all comers.

In a way the license fee rejection is doing what it should - hurting RTE for failing to keep in tune with its audience. RTE has lost part of its audience and now needs to reform it's output in order to win it back.

Brendan Bendar · 11-08-2023 06:25PM

Lads and lassies, don’t feed that poster.

You know whom I’m referring to.

ButtersSuki · 11-08-2023 06:31PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120966211#Comment_120966211

That’s good to hear, I genuinely feared for her role when I read NKM’s star pupil made a complaint about her.

alzer100 · 11-08-2023 06:47PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120966551#Comment_120966551

It looks like Adrian Lynch stated so as acting interim DD-G.

Kevin Backhurst has since stated that Tubridy is not being paid until a new pay 'level' has been agreed.

TBH We don't know, all we do know is that both parties (Backhurst and Tubridy) had a 'constructive' conversation before both of them went on their holidays.

IMO I believe either way Ryan Tubridy is not being left short changed. He is either still being paid for his radio slot (although to my knowledge he is out of contract) or he is not getting paid during this time and will negotiate a new contract with Kevin Backhurst (either with or without Noel Kelly) of which he will be paid for this period. Hence, Kevin Backhurst stating that he does not want to deal with Noel Kelly at THIS point in time.

Or, due to the fallout of this debacle any future negotiations with Kevin Backhurst and Ryan Tubridy may result with RTE breaking ties with Tubridy, although I find that scenario not impossible but highly unlikely.

ButtersSuki · 11-08-2023 06:48PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120966594#Comment_120966594

From memory end of August (just checked and it was August 24th last year).

Last year the “stars” and select journalists were wined and dined for the launch. Given the recent revelations I’d imagine it’s going to me a much lower key affair this year, possibly just a press release and no launch.

Here’s a link to one piece of coverage from last year’s “event” inc. some “ker-azy” poses from the stars of ~~NKM~~ RTÉ and Mr. Tubridy doing some of his trademark pointing, this time on a Vespa with a flat tyre.

http://www.goss.ie/showbiz/rte-reveal-exciting-additions-to-autumn-schedule-at-new-season-launch-308570

Pelvis Parsley · 11-08-2023 06:54PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120966643#Comment_120966643

Happily, she didn't end up "movin' to Florida".

RoTelly · 11-08-2023 07:19PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120966703#Comment_120966703

Yeah 70K for that, I was giving out about it at the time, if they do similar this year they haven't got a clue.

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120966728#Comment_120966728

She's working August and won't be attending the festivities on the 24th.

Brian Scan · 11-08-2023 07:26PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120963339#Comment_120963339

"Retirees getting made redundant a year or two out x 6 or 10 times salary per year served"

Are you saying that someone on €100,000, who worked in RTE for 40 years would get a payoff of up to 40 million (10 * 100,000 * 40)? .

ButtersSuki · 11-08-2023 07:27PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120966827#Comment_120966827

€70,000 or €70,000 + 35% if it went through the barter account…..

Pelvis Parsley · 11-08-2023 07:35PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120966703#Comment_120966703

Good lord, what a cavalcade of gick!

It looks like that piece was sent in by RTE and published as was. Everything is great.

Archeron · 11-08-2023 07:38PM

Tubridy in general as the self proclaimed young fogie - creepy level two.

Harbinger of death and misery at prime time on friday night - creepy level five.

I am the toyman - creepy level seven.

Those patrick and the president illustrations with him in them - creepyometer explodes raining glass down on the innocent onlookers, some of whom will be on a future LLS to talk about how they felt as their skin was flayed off.

This thread has taught me many new things. Odd, disturbing things.

ButtersSuki · 11-08-2023 07:45PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120966888#Comment_120966888

That’s usually what happens with press releases to be fair.

I can guarantee you that appeared elsewhere word for word as it is there.

ButtersSuki · 11-08-2023 07:46PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120966901#Comment_120966901

‘Twas one Eamonn Dunphy who said he was a young fogey, and that was probably 20 years ago btw.

Karppi · 11-08-2023 08:30PM

A bit off topic, but having read the article about last Autumn's exciting RTE offering, I idly clicked on the article "VOGUE WILLIAMS ‘NOT HAPPY’ AFTER COMPANY ACCUSES HER OF STEALING". She doesn't sound like a very nice person.....

inajock · 11-08-2023 08:43PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120966848#Comment_120966848

That's what I posted for sure and i shouldn't have used those figures.

Caquas · 11-08-2023 10:36PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120966007#Comment_120966007

I should add that what turns this issue into a potential Oppenheimer is the fact that many RTÉ employees applied for, and were refused, this package. Imagine their fury if it turns out that some bigwigs awarded themselves the prize without regard to the criteria on which other applications had been refused.

https://www.offalyindependent.ie/2023/07/14/local-nuj-chief-welcomes-external-probe-of-rte-voluntary-exit-schemes/

Now you might think “What is the anger of a few RTÉ staff who didn’t get to feed at the trough compared to the righteous anger of the millions of licence fee payers?” Ah, such innocence.

Imagine if these exit packages had been granted to everyone who applied. The unions would shut down this enquiry before Bathurst knew what hit him. I mean “the matter would be referred to arbitration and mediation with a rapid process leading to a settlement in favour of our members without discrimination”

Instead the worlers in RTÉ have discovered who are the bosses and who (in the mirror every morning) are the plebs.

Bad enough having “top talent” like the irreplaceable Lottie Ryan creaming it, but an accountant!!!!

jmcc · 11-08-2023 11:14PM

The more of this stuff that leaks out before the Dail is back in late September, the worse it will be for RTE. Wonder if this year's Autumn schedule announcement will have Tubridy in the photo?

Regards...jmcc

Cluedo Monopoly · 11-08-2023 11:47PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120966007#Comment_120966007

This redundancy package could turn out to be very murky and even illegal. Kevin says the report will be ready by end of September. I wonder will he miss another deadline. This stuff isn't hard to figure out - they could uncover the truth in a week if they asked the right people the right questions. Who sanctioned it, what were the eligibility criteria and how was the payout calculated? Why does everything have to be a damn report? They already know the truth. Dee Forbes and O'Keefe could explain it in 5 mins.

By the end of September they will have my unpaid license fee too.

hamburgham · 12-08-2023 12:12AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120965605#Comment_120965605

Plus the nepotism. The staff are very quiet about this. The recruitment policies need a review as well.

fritzelly · 12-08-2023 12:55AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120967923#Comment_120967923

Very illegal - the job was not redundant, she was even telling the replacement about things. That is not a redundancy but the buck will, I would imagine, stick with RTE paying a redundancy package to someone whilst employing someone else to do the same job.

Another we'll look after you golden handshake and she became very ill when this was found out.

Time to bring RTE in to the civil/public service where none of this crap would ever happen.

RabbleRouser2k · 12-08-2023 01:13AM

I notice Virgin Media are posting a job advert for a journalist to cover for one of their crew, as one of their reporters are going on maternity leave.

Wouldn't see that happening at RTE.

But as others have noted, this is the nepotistic culture at RTE.

It's interesting how this story refuses to 'die', no matter how RTE 'talent' try to wish that it will.

A celebrity death, that they covered for days. Even Ryan tried to get in on that, and it backfired. Then a good chunk of license fee payers stopped paying their license, and now Bakhurst has to be seen to do something, which lead to the redundancy package review.

Now we get an announcement of when the LLS will return, and it's been overshadowed by more revelations.

jmcc · 12-08-2023 01:15AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120968033#Comment_120968033

Don't think that integrating RTE ito the civil service would resolve any of its institutional problems. The hybrid licence fee / commercial problem would still remain and there are some major regulations on what civil servants can do on accepting or offering freebies or gifts. There's also the employment issue. The underliying issue is that RTE was set up by gombeens who wanted the best of both worlds, state and commerical, but it is unsuited to existence in the 21st century as the market has changed from one where RTE was a monopoly state broadcaster to one with multiple broadcasters and competition. The market really started to change in the 1970s when cable television started to take off in the cities. It got worse for RTE through the 1980s and 1990s with the rise of satellite TV. Now, RTE is competing with Netflix and Amazon Prime for movies. When's is the last time anyone here watched a movie on RTE's channels?

Regards...jmcc

fritzelly · 12-08-2023 01:36AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120968055#Comment_120968055

I see where you're coming from but it is time for a root and branch change.

Look at Sweden (ok double the population but its still a valid point)

Public service broadcasting - Myndigheten för press, radio och tv (mprt.se)

Has to provide public service broadcasting, cannot take advertising or use product placement (Joe Duffy would cringe at that) and so on, charges far less than the RTE fee for the average tax payer and those on lower income pay even less

RTE wants the best of both worlds while providing none of the benefits of either

jmcc · 12-08-2023 06:52AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120968079#Comment_120968079

It would be great if RTE was to be a public service broadcaster. Integrating RTE, the public broadcaster, with the Civil Service might work (with a lot of work) but there probably won't be any support from the present government for that option. The hybrid model means that it is hard to say where RTE the "public broadcaster" and RTE the commercial broadcaster begin and end. A root and branch reform would probably require new companies for both with the technical side of things hived off to 2RN (RTE Networks).

Regards...jmcc

pat_sconce · 12-08-2023 07:57AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120968053#Comment_120968053

They will have advertised it internally first like almost every other company.

They most likely put feelers out to others who declined.

Now the next stage is to advertise it.

For most jobs internal/ put feelers out will fill the position. That's how many companies operate.

machiavellianme · 12-08-2023 08:08AM

So RTE are still paying Tubridy despite him being off air? But it's OK because they're only paying him what they think is a fair amount rather than the invoiced values. There must be some strange clauses in that contract because most businesses don't pay for no services provided, nor do they just determine fair amounts on the fly - unless of course RT is in fact an employee and they are under different obligations?

I can't link directly due to the paywall, but the story is here:

https://archive.ph/0pj9y

dubrov · 12-08-2023 08:09AM

So it looks like Tubridy is getting paid while on holidays despite being a contractor with no contract.

https://www.irishtimes.com/media/2023/08/12/tubridy-getting-paid-less-than-he-sought-from-rte-while-off-air-bakhurst-says/

pat_sconce · 12-08-2023 08:11AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120968079#Comment_120968079

I'm sure RTE would love public funding of €746m in exchange for dropping advertising and sponsorship.

That's over double their entire income from commercial fees and licence fees.

Streaming is more popular than ever and growing.

RTE2 is probably best as a kids/sports/movie channel.

Rte1 should be more news, investigation and entertainment. Not a huge difference from now, but more news oriented.

2fm definitely not required.

Rte gold and lyric do target a specific audience, so should be kept.

Orchestra slimmed down but still should stay.

My guess is something like this will probably happen with license fee collected via household charge via revenue, thus increasing income by €50m - €80m without increasing fee (1.9m occupied homes)

RTÉ admits paying Tubridy €345,000 more than declared

Comments