RTÉ faces insolvency 'early next year' if additional funding is not granted - Director General

Director General of RTÉ Kevin Bakhurst faced questions on the state broadcaster's funding and financial future.
it comes days after Richard Collins - the Chief Financial Officer (CFO) for RTÉ - resigned.
On Wednesday afternoon (11 October) RTÉ's Director General (DG) Kevin Bakhurst informed staff of Collins tendering his resignation, RTÉ News reports.
The outlet states that Collins "will work on a handover" and that RTÉ is in the "process of identifying a replacement CFO".
It also reports that Bakhurst is meeting staff to "update them on developments" within the broadcaster and that the DG has informed workers that while RTÉ will be a "smaller organisation", there will be no compulsory redundancies.
Collins' resignation follows the much-publicised RTÉ secret payments scandal that broke in June 2023 and its subsequent fallout.
While appearing before a Public Accounts Committee (PAC) earlier this year to answer questions regarding the scandal, the resigning CFO made headlines when he revealed he did not know his "exact salary".

[@michaeljohndennis2231]

Excellent news - the sooner that RTÉ goes off the air permanently the better

[@SethMcFartlane]

A public company that refuses to disclose it's "exit packages" and bonus payments to it's employees is beyond a joke.

[@marymcneill9914]

If RTE had more balanced broadcasting, instead of being a puppet for government they might be in better circumstances.

[@johndownes9162]

I can’t wait to see them going under. Been pilfering for far too long. Overflated wages and perks to basically useless people.

[@orlamccahey1504]

Good we dont need corrupt RTE

[@jj356]

give them nothing...spend it on housing.

[@limerickman8512]

Get rid of the TV license.

[@faye2363]

Leave RTE be dissolved . If a private firm makes a loss they have to close their doors.

[@faye2363]

Not a cent of taxpayer’s money should be given to RTE until a through revenue audit is done on the this organisation and tax paid on freebies which are ‘ benefits in kind ‘. Anybody in private organisations who get get benefit in kind pay TAX to the revenue . That’s the way the world works for ordinary citizens.

[@doniehurley7634]

The elephant in the room is the absence of the former DG Dee Forbes

[@tomgreene1843]

Indeed , that is the case...but it will not solve the financial problems.

[@doniehurley7634]

@@tomgreene1843 Lets be honest RTE is a mere side show in whats being consumed in Ireland at the present moment

[@tomgreene1843]

Indeed it is ...but tell that to arte!@@doniehurley7634

[@maryshannon4444]

The country needs a national station but it needs to be run properly and unbiased viewing without the propaganda. Then people might watch it.

[@tomgreene1843]

A dilution at least of the agenda would help ...it is almost like the Irish Times!

[@787maggie]

Turbidy should give that 150,000 back. The work wasn't done so he didn't earn it

[@sunny2shoes]

Bring back Bosco and wonderly wagon!

[@Pau-tc9wj]

Will I get my tv licence money back?

[@maryshannon4444]

What are they doing with it, giving themselves bonuses.

[@themsmloveswar3985]

I expect Ryan Turbridy to give them a million Euros. And all the other millionaires there will chip in. They keep telling us that RTE are extremely important. Therefore they will put their hands in their own pockets.....

[@EmilePesky-n1v]

Oh, I'm convinced you're right 😂. They all have plenty of more money now that that ship with Ukrainians on it was caught with a few tonnes of coke.

[@dermotpurcell8861]

Personally I believe that if the Irish people woke up there would not be a stone left standing in Montrose

[@seanbonella]

Leinster house first

[@tomgreene1843]

Maybe woke down!

[@KimPhilby203]

Let it fold

[@user-wd8vh4ob8s]

Won’t miss RTE when it’s gone

[@CollieJenn]

Chances of HMG putting Paddy in charge of the BBC is zero yet we have this non national as our mouthpiece for our government. Once again no irish need apply. One would love to know more about relationship D4orbes and others have with this individual. Meanwhile Spin Feign is happy with this appointment just like they are with the AnGS chief.

[@patrickmorris3721]

It’s the game they play 😉👍

[@noeldoyle4501]

All paid up members of Lucifer's club, they can only go in the wrong direction.

[@deniseclarke2009]

excellent

[@seanverney4475]

Would it be the end of the world if RTE was taken off the airwaves ( I don’t think so )

[@patrickmorris3721]

I remember the time when Rte only had to write 50 million on one A4 paper and think they were worth every penny of. 😉🤣🤣 If Rte done their job and stood independently People would have more respect. You reap what you sow. .Fair play to. Verona Murphey. 👍

[@seanbonella]

Good

[@stephenmonaghan4025]

Wrong man for the job he wants all of montrose sold

[@tomgreene1843]

Selling Montrose and building affordable housing in South Dublin ...Tut Tut!....ok if it was Athlone.

[@Concernedworldcitizen]

Bakhurst out!

[@LifeInStone]

In some European countries TV funds are collected by a small €2/€3 per electricity bill as a national broadcasting charge. It’s fair because every building pays it. It’s €30 a year and equally distributed. They can also advertise. But that’s it. Not a penny more tax payer money and none of their broadcasters are paid more than €100k. RTÉ and the way it’s run is a disgusting state propaganda and cash cow for a small group of people.

[@michaelmulholland1725]

Here’s an idea, why not tap into the millions of Irish overseas. Adjust your RTE player app so people overseas can pay a small fee to watch content from overseas. There some additional income. No it’s just easier to put you hands out to the government like a small child to it parents.

[@Vince1303]

A very bad day at the office for Mr Bakhurst. A moral obligation to protect the integrity of RTE? RTE'S Integrity is in tatters already. He refers to the independence of RTE, well could I remind him that RTE is NOT independent. RTE is beholden to the tax payers of this country who have been bankrolling this circus of an organisation for far too long despite getting very poor value in return, and the licence fee payers who must now be wondering why they should any longer pay for the waste and lavish spending and exorbitant salaries of those who work at the Montrose country club. They got away with it for long enough, but it's over now.

[@Sunshine-Light]

I’m voting for insolvency 👏👏👏👏

[@MisterKen81]

Who actually watches RTE? The late late hasn’t been good since Gay Byrne handed the reigns over to that plank pat kenny and to Rudy was a worse choice for the role. The only decent programme they had was Love/Hate

[@tomgreene1843]

No...Mart and Market with Ml Dillon was the best!

[@jonniemorgan8152]

Let them crash and burn, they’ve wasted our money for years. Surely you have to ask why they pay themselves so much

[@2012edunne]

Easy answer SUSPEND funding to RTE, IF THEY DONT PROVIDE DETAILS. COMPEL ALL WITNESSES TO APPEAR. if the public don't pay the TV License RTE AND THE GOVT ARE QUICK TO SPOUT "ITS THE LAW"

[@kavo1256]

The will never let it sink.... Too important to push the government spin for the older generation.. They would never have got the numbers for the jab otherwise

[@67lionsoflisbon37]

Not a cent. To pay the likes of Darcy Duffy etc. Not a cent.

[@abdiggle4259]

Not a Cent .

[@donore3]

Who appointed this tyrant

[@hhhhh54545]

Verona Murphy comes across like a total wagon

[@dibble2005]

so Tubridy took the 150 million and won't give it back and the Irish still love him. What a bunch of idiots,

[@kevinhickey3515]

Insolvent.....so be it. Will peoples lives change? Of course not....Now it is early spring next year and this charade is going on. Backhurst covering up big time.....