McRedmond no longer interested in RTÉ role, says speculation over director general appointment ‘damaging’

Businessman David McRedmond has broken his silence on the controversy over the appointment of RTÉ's new director general.

The broadcaster has been embroiled in recriminations since detailed leaks of a board meeting called to rubber stamp the appointment of former deputy director general Kevin Bakhurst to the role emerged. Several board members were reported to be reluctant to approve the appointment and allegedly expressed surprise at the early dismissal of Mr McRedmond – a former head of TV3, now Virgin Media – in the interview process.

In a statement on Sunday, Mr McRedmond said the ongoing speculation about the role was “damaging to RTÉ, to An Post and to those involved”.

He confirmed that he is no longer interested in the role.

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“I am no longer a candidate in any process for a role at RTÉ and for the avoidance of doubt, I have no further interest in a role at RTÉ,” he said.

It comes as RTÉ chairwoman Siún Ní Raghallaigh prepares for a hearing on Wednesday of the Oireachtas media committee where she will be quizzed about the recent leaks relating to the board’s delayed appointment of a new director general.

Mr McRedmond said he had been asked by several people to apply for the role.

“I was grateful for their support. I did an interview on March 13th with the chairperson and two directors of RTÉ and was informed by the recruitment consultant the following day that I was not being shortlisted,” he said. “I accepted that decision.”

[ Laura Slattery: Who would want to be director general of RTÉ now? ]

[ Any Other Business by John Burns: An Post’s David McRedmond fails to conquer RTÉ ]

The selection panel comprised Ms Ní Raghallaigh, a former chairwoman of Irish language broadcaster TG4; business executive Anne O’Leary; and Massachusetts Institute of Technology academic Jonathan Ruane.

“I still care deeply about RTÉ,” Mr McRedmond said. “It is vital that we support professional indigenous journalism and public service broadcasting.

“I also have a personal grá for the organisation through my late father and late sister who both worked there. I wish RTÉ well in its appointment of a new director general. There seems to be excellent candidates and I hope they proceed swiftly.”

He said he would be making no further comment on the job, adding that his focus now was “to complete, with my brilliant colleagues and board, the successful transformation of An Post”.

[ RTÉ director general selection stalls after ‘fraught’ board meeting ]

It is expected that RTÉ will proceed to appoint Mr Bakhurst, who was managing director of RTÉ News and Current Affairs from September 2012 until 2016, to the €306,000 a year post.

Mr Bakhurst left the organisation after losing out to current director general Dee Forbes for the top job in 2016 and has since been working as group director of broadcasting and online content at UK broadcasting regulator Ofcom.

The appointment of the director general must be approved by the board and signed off by the Cabinet. There was speculation last week that the Cabinet would have a number to consider at its meeting on Tuesday.