💥 “SOMETHING REALLY DOESN’T ADD UP!” RTÉ boss Kevin Bakhurst is gɾilled by Senators and TDs over fresh pɑy cσntroversy — expσsing a shσcking SECRET no one was meant to notice… 😲

PAY FURY 

Under-fire RTE chief to be grilled over hidden pay controversy as ‘upstairs-downstairs’ situation blasted by Harris

An image collage containing 1 images, Image 1 shows Man in a suit standing in front of the RTE logo

RTE supremo Kevin Bakhurst will today be grilled by Senators and TDs following ­outrage over another hidden pay controversy.

The latest fiasco at the national broadcaster involves radio host Derek Mooney.

Man in a suit standing in front of the RTE logo.
RTE Chief Kevin Bakhurst is set to be grilled by Senators and TDs over another controversyCredit: Brian Lawless/PA Wire

 

A man in glasses wearing a black fleece and light pants smiles at the camera on a tree-lined road.
It follows radio host Derek Mooney not making the broadcaster’s top ten pay listCredit: Collect

RTE bosses are under fire again after it emerged Mooney had been the station’s ninth highest paid star in 2020 but never appeared on the annual top ten presenter’s pay list because he had been re-classified as a producer.

RTE has since republished last year’s top ten list which now includes Mr Mooney in seventh place with a ­salary of more than €200k.

Furious Media Minister Patrick O’Donovan tonight met with the head of RTE and board chairman Terence O’Rourke after they were summoned to Government Buildings to explain the latest wages scandal.

The development has brought comparisons to the financial and governance controversy that rocked RTE three years ago, following underdeclared payments to Late Late host Ryan Tubridy.

Fresh concerns also emerged today as the partner of former RTE star Sean Rocks met with the Media Minister to inform him that her late partner had also been primarily classified as a producer at the broadcaster despite fronting the Arena show on Radio One.

RTE Director General Mr Bakhurst will today come before the Oireachtas Media Committee.

Tanaiste Simon Harris today ­criticised an “upstairs-downstairs” situation at the broadcaster.

He said: “I think there’s a lot of decent people in RTE who will feel let down by this latest set of revelations.”

Mr O’Donovan said he has spoken to RTE staff who are very aggrieved and criticised the “recategorisation” of Mr Mooney as a producer.
He added: “It’s a very fancy word — I never heard of it until last week.”

The Government today approved new legislation that will bring RTE under the watchful eye of the Comptroller and Auditor General.

This will mean that the broadcaster’s books are poured over by the State’s auditor every year and any issues aired in public at the Public Accounts Committee.

Source: https://www.thesun.ie/news/16981673/rte-chief-grilled-over-hidden-pay-scandal/

RELATED ARTICLESMORE FROM AUTHOR