A Clare senator says it will be “hard to justify” the salaries of RTÉ’s top earners going forward.
A bill to limit the earnings at RTÉ in line with the pay of the Media Minister is being debated in the Seanad today.
It comes as Ryan Tubridy and his agent Noel Kelly have offered to appear before the Oireachtas Media Committee next week.
Independent Senator Rónán Mullen is pursuing a private members bill this afternoon, to ensure no RTÉ salary exceeds that of Minister Catherine Martin.
If passed, this would cap earnings of all RTÉ staff at €195,000.
It follows RTÉ’s confirmation that all its top 100 earners are paid over €100,000.
The proposals would also require that any salary at the broadcaster exceeding that of a TD which is €107,000 would have to be made public.
The bill is intended to prioritise “community values” over “corporate values” which is something Senator Mullen feels has been lacking.
One of the bill’s supporters, Tulla Fianna Fáil Senator Timmy Dooley, says while it is unclear whether agreed contracts can be altered, it is difficult to justify keeping some particularly high RTÉ salaries at the same level.
It comes as Ryan Tubridy and his agent Noel Kelly have offered to appear before the Oireachtas Media Committee next week.
Solicitors for the pair have written a letter to committee Chair Niamh Smyth, stating they wish to “fully cooperate and assist” with investigations.
It comes in the wake of fresh revelations at RTÉ that several barter accounts were in existence, despite the executive board stating last week there was only one.
Figures show the broadcaster spent almost 5,000 euro on flip flops for a summer party in 2016 among a wider 1.6 million euro hospitality spend.
Finance Minister Michael McGrath says their behaviour to date hasn’t been up to scratch, and they must do better at this afternoon’s Oireachtas Media Committee.
You can listen to the full interview with Senator Timmy Dooley below.
