RADIO REVIEW:FORGET ABOUT unemployment reaching 11 per cent this year, or the economy contracting by 6 per cent, deflation or even the emergency budget on April 7th. There are more important issues facing some in our State broadcaster. Such as the crisis of conscience regarding the 10 per cent pay cut by "RTÉ's best-loved personalities", to quote that presumptious promo. Ryan Tubridy silently crumbled last weekend, but Gerry Ryan held out until Tuesday when he made a ridiculous speech attempting to embody the pain of the economic crisis.
While Tubridy’s legal issue is now resolved, Gerry Ryan said he wanted to wait until he had something meaningful to say. Most mortals would just say they don’t want a pay cut, but RTÉ’s allegedly beloved “stars” are not concerned with such petty injustices. They have legal and metaphysical matters to muse on, not to mention the delicate issue of how this might impact on their own popularity. Make no mistake: RTÉ talent is all replaceable. Without the RTÉ brand behind them, many so-called stars would quickly turn into plummeting meteorites.
In the real world of commercial radio on The Sunday Supplement (Today FM, Sundays), Lucinda Creighton, like a good TD, said of the fuss, “It’s symptomatic of a wider problem across the public sector.” ’Tis. Economist Moore McDowell asked, “Why are they getting paid the amount they are getting paid?” Sam Smyth read a text in his sexy Northern drawl: “I woke up last night twice, calling your name, and wanted you to come back.” Take note, RTÉ bigmouths. That text was not hankering after a forgotten star. It turned out to be a wrong number.
And, so, on The Gerry Ryan Show (2FM, weekdays), the €558,000-A-Year Man gushed: “I have relied on you, the audience, to provide me with the guidance and support, and inspiration that have gotten me through every single day . . .” He went on for six interminable, self-indulgent, self-serving minutes. His salary may be down, but his ego is up by at least another 10 per cent. And that €558,000 salary figure, by the way, is for 2006.
Like all supposedly humble preachers/divas, La Ryan praised his congregation/audience. He took the cut with “humility”, apologised to those who thought he took a long time making up his mind and wished everyone else the best of luck. “All along you have never steered me wrong. You have made me smile, you have slapped me across the wrist where appropriate, but you have always kept faith . . .” Kept faith?
The most important six minutes on radio this week came on Wednesday’s Morning Ireland (RTÉ Radio One). It was filled by a loyalist voice in the wake of the murders of two soldiers and one policeman in the North. Frankie Gallagher, from the Ulster Political Research Group, which gives advice to the UDA, spoke to Cathal Mac Coille. “I wouldn’t let them create any despair in our hearts or in our minds for a long-lasting peace,” said Gallagher. “We have to stand united as a society, republican, nationalist, unionist.” On comments by Martin McGuinness that the killers are “traitors”, he said: “Sinn Féin has been astonishing in Northern Ireland at the minute, they have stepped up to the line and beyond it. They have demonstrated to the people, certainly in unionist communities, that they’re wedded to peace.”
On Thursday’s Lunchtime (Newstalk 106-108, weekdays) Brendan O’Brien was reading a litany of angry texts about the salary increments/pay raises for 26 TDs and 12 Senators who were first elected in 2002. Finian McGrath declared, “As an Independent TD, I don’t do gravy trains, I don’t do guff and I don’t do hypocrisy.” They really are the kind of flowery compliments others should make on your behalf.
O’Brien asked if he held onto his teaching post after becoming a TD. “Wrong!” he said. “I don’t do double-jobbing.” McGrath said he had donated 10 per cent of his salary to voluntary groups since 2002 and took the lead on the 10 per cent pay cut. On the pay rise for those public sector workers, who presumably don’t do hypocrisy either, he said, “In good economic times it is an entitlement.”
And what about now in the bad times? “My official political position is, ‘yes’, it should be frozen.” Immodesty and self-congratulation aside, there’s a media-savvy man who at least knows what side his batch bread is buttered on.
qfottrell@irishtimes.com