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A SENIOR FIGURE in RTÉ, Adrian Lynch, has said that financial difficulties at the station led them to the decision to stop making children’s programmes – and also confirmed Fair City will not be outsourced, despite some media reports.
Earlier this week, the public service broadcaster announced that it would stop making inhouse programmes, and would instead outsource vacancies to independent contractors.
In a statement, RTÉ said this decision was taken to achieve better “value for money” in a “challenging financial environment” .
Speaking on RTÉ’s Drivetime today, channel controller for RTÉ One and RTÉ2 Adrian Lynch said the decision to stop making children’s television programmes was taken because of “acute financial difficulties” at the station, which were augmented by the threat of Brexit.
He also said that the organisation had an obligation to outsource €40 million of its production to the independent sector.
Earlier this evening, the Trade Union Group (TUG) said that they had made progress in their talks with RTÉ to stop the move, in the acknowledgement that some of the workers’ rights had been breached as unions were not consulted.
In a statement released to the media, RTÉ and the TUG said:
RTÉ and TUG met today to discuss RTÉ’s decision to transfer of all Young People’s Programming to the independent sector.
RTÉ accepted that there has been a breach of the ‘Guiding Principles Agreement’ which commit to prior consultation on significant issues.
It has been agreed that union and management will enter into comprehensive discussions on this matter in line with our agreements. Discussions will conclude no later than 31 January 2017.
Speaking on Drivetime on this development, Lynch refused to confirm that the move had been suspended until the end of this consultation period (31 January).
He said that the previously mentioned financial difficulties and the obligation of the station to outsource remained, despite the outcome of today’s talks.
But SIPTU campaigns and equality organiser, Karan O’Loughlin, said that the outcome had “highlighted the value of workers, through their trade unions, securing collective agreements with an employer”.
“Throughout the forthcoming period of talks we will be ensuring that our members interests are protected and the public service ethos of the station are safeguarded.”
Yesterday, the decision to outsource children’s programming was discussed in the Seanad – and Jimmy Dignam of the Workers’ Party called the decision “a slippery slope towards further privatisation of a vital public service.”
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In years to come they’ll be the individuals you’ll be reading about with dozens of convictions but still on the streets.
It’s a imported problem, eastern Europe
@herp: We have no homegrown joyriders and car thieves?
@herp: evidence of that claim?
@herp:
Really?
Down to your local station and make a detailed statement in evidence so.
@herp: obviously that could not be an Irish.. and I suppose the gangs in Drogheda are all from Europe as well ?
@herp: course it is!
Sure where else?
No Irish Criminals rob cars, nor any other nationality.
Now which “Eastern Europeans” would you mean?
What a dopey illformed comment!
Wonder what rag tabloid you get your info from?
Broke into my folks’ house in Clontarf 2 weeks ago, nicked the keys and the car. Scrotes!
@Yzo Sirrius: Clontarf along with Malahide and Portmarnock are no-go areas, gangs roaming the streets robbing and beating up people
@Yzo Sirrius: yeah. Most of these were actually done in clontarf raheny Sutton and baldoyle.
@Seaniecp: Yeah, the garda said there was 7 cars stolen in the Clontarf area in the previous 2 weeks.
@Niall O’Neill: “no-go areas”…chill out, man!
@Niall O’Neill: like every other area in the country. Place is absolutely lawless
@Yzo Sirrius: Well one is no good without the other
Almost certainly all on benefits, as funded by us mugs, the taxpayers. Then will be sent to prison, again funded by us. Useless leeches.
Sorry to hear about cars been stolen but why leave keys so close to letterbox were they can be “Phished” so easily
@postmanbill: probably a false sense of being safe and secure behind you hall door Alas sadly NO .
@postmanbill: some people leave them in easy reach as an alternative to these people breaking into their house and terrorising their families for the keys to a piece of rolling metal on their driveway.
@postmanbill: I’d rather then took them this way rather then actually entering the house to get them. Lesser of 2 evils.
@Amy Callan: Why not leave the keys in the car if you are that way of thinking. Just give up is not an option.
@wacker macker: just not in the ignition ha, as it is a criminal offence to leave your keys in the ignition while your car is unattended.
have your say