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RTÉ HAS DEFENDED its actions in awarding €2.7million in programming contracts to members of its own board of directors last year.
The broadcaster’s annual report for 2010 shows that it made purchases worth €2.7million from companies controlled by board members, other “key management personnel” or their close relatives in 2010. The figure was primarily payment for commissioned programmes, the report states. In 2009, the equivalent figure was just €100,000.
The Irish Mail on Sunday (print edition only) reported that members whose companies received payments include Stuart Switzer, whose Coco Television firm produces Crimecall and Desperate Houses; and Orlaith Carmody, who is involved in a firm which created several episodes of Capital D. If the €2.7million figure all went to commissioned programmes, it would represent 4.7 per cent of RTÉ’s total spending on commissioning from outside producers.
The broadcaster has denied any conflict of interest, saying all the contracts were on normal commercial terms. A spokesman saidt: “RTÉ’s board operation on the one hand, and its executive process for programme commissioning on the other, are separately drawn up, operated and supervised.”
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So that’s why RTE has crap programmes that they dare charge us a licence fee for?
Yep, just in case you were in any doubt that RTE is a closed shop, this proves it. CLOSE IT DOWN, SELL IT OFF.
Why do I continue to be surprised by stories like this?!
We might as well have Tony Soprano running this country, full of bloody crooks.
Shysters
Fat cats getting fatter & jobs for the boys. RTE needs to be sold off to the highest bidder.
If news broke that the current crop of presenters were the children of the older crop….
they’d still deny nepotism, cronyism and the general greed that is endemic in this countries public service.
This has been going on for decades..in the old days RTE ‘personalities’ were
behind a number of production companies that pitched for and undercut
AV companies in the private sector because they had free use of in-house’
RTE facilities!…….just like certain consultants do with their hospital’s gear!
Sell it off.
If news broke that the current crop of presenters were the children of the older crop….
1. It wouldn’t surprise me
2, they’d still deny nepotism, cronyism and the general greed that is endemic in this countries public service.
There was a great article in Finfacts some longer time ago, dealing with the
culture of secrecy of Irish journalism. They are a closed shop. The rather silly program,
if not say crap, are the inevitable result of this.
http://www.finfacts.com/irelandbusinessnews/publish/article_10002526.shtml
Lets have our Garda investigate and that will be that — no action will be taken and nobody will resign. Just like the banks – The TD’s and Garda themselves. Golden Circles. Friends of friends and maybe Gay byrne will be given another job on air to discuss the situation. At least the whole tender system works well in RTE –strange that Gay Byrne,Miriam O’ Callaghan,Tuberty, and Derek Mooney keep winning the tenders — all very strange.
There isn’t enough information in the article to reach any conclusion. It’s merely a statement of fact that the €2.7m has been spent and RTE saying the deals are on normal commercial terms. Were they? Why post an incomplete article? More work needed Mr Journalist.
As I said before RTE is run by Fianna Fail
RTE is a conflict of interest
HOW ON EARTH CAN CAN YOU DEFEND 2.7 MILL PAYCHECKS HOW? A CROWD OF KNOBHEADS AND PUSSYCATS IN RYE IF THEY THINK WE WON’T MALE SOMETHING OF THIS. THAT MONEY COULD FUND EDUCATION OR EVEN JOBS!!!! WHAT A DISGRACE, THE SAME DAY JOAN BURTON PLANS TO CUT THE POOR PEOPLE ON THE DOLE THIS COMES OUT, BIZARRE.
RTE TYPO
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