Sir, – I look forward to the reaction of the Oireachtas committee members when their probing of the financial issues at RTÉ is met by every politician’s standard response: “Unfortunately, I cannot answer that question as it would pre-empt the external independent review that is under way.” – Yours, etc,
DAVID LOUGHLIN,
Rathmines,
Dublin 6.
Sir, – I note that Dee Forbes has resigned as director general of RTÉ “with immediate effect”. In what other organisation would one be able to resign “with immediate effect”? Most employees have to give one month’s notice, and for some senior staff it would be three months. – Yours, etc,
BATTIE WHITE,
Sandyford,
Dublin 18.
Sir, – The biggest media question used to be “Who’s bringing the horse to France?” Now it must be “Who rang Renault?” – Yours, etc,
CIANA CAMPBELL,
Ennis,
Co Clare.
Sir, – While watching from afar the turmoil over Ryan’s income, it must be put into perspective.
His salary, now called a Tubridy, or a Tubs for short, is equivalent here in the UK to a Shearer, or a third of a Lineker. – Yours, etc,
JOHN BERGIN,
Oxton,
Wirral, UK.
Sir, – Pat Rabbitte once said that if people want quality public service broadcasting they should be willing to pay for it. Let’s find out if they are. We could hold a referendum on whether to abolish the TV licence. Let the people decide for themselves. – Yours, etc,
CONOR O’MAHONY,
Dublin 4.
A chara, – Fintan O’Toole is to be congratulated for telling it like it is (“Ryan Tubridy chose silence instead of speaking out. An extended silence should follow”, Opinion & Analysis, June 27th).
A public service broadcaster cannot afford, and should actively discourage, a celebrity culture. If you work in RTÉ, you should be paid a reasonable salary, no more. – Is mise,
GREG SCANLON,
Shannon,
Co Clare.
Sir, – I have to say Fintan O’Toole was bang on the money about Ryan Tubridy. Silence will now be golden. – Yours, etc,
NOEL COSTELLO,
Sutton,
Dublin 13.
Sir, – Car parking clamper: “I have the hardest job in Ireland.”
RTÉ licence fee collector: “Wana bet?” – Yours, etc,
EAMON FARRELL,
Sandymount,
Dublin 4.
A chara, – It is wonderful to see how Dáil Éireann and our Government are so exercised over €345,000 and governance at RTE. They are enjoying an early, unplanned but brilliant summer holiday as the whole country descends upon RTÉ, taking the spotlight off the other crises, where they have responsibility.
They are benefitting from the Dee-version. – Yours, etc,
SIOBHÁN NÍ CHUANAIGH,
Clonskeagh,
Dublin 14.
Sir, – I have worked in television in Ireland for over 35 years and this latest version of “RTÉ losing the trust of its viewers” comes as no surprise.
The issue here is, and always will be, the fact that RTÉ is allowed to be dual-funded, getting both the licence fee and commercial revenue.
There is a systemic culture within RTÉ that believes it can and should do anything necessary to protect an increasingly bloated and unsustainable RTÉ.
This culture pervades everything, including an impact on the wider broadcast sector, and more damming, on RTÉ's own public-service credentials.
Dual-funding created a monster and now not even dual-funding can sustain it.
The solution isn’t hanging individuals out to dry, the solution is to half the size of the RTÉ cost base and fund it solely from the exchequer.
A public-service entity dealing with commercial revenue is an accident waiting to happen or, as has been proven over the years, lots of accidents waiting to happen. – Yours, etc,
JIM DUGGAN,
Donnybrook,
Dublin 4.
Sir, – Due to its literally competitive nature, professional team sport often provides good analogy for business. Apart from exceptions where it is genuinely difficult to fill specific gaps in teams, the approach is generally to leave its “stars” to market forces: if they can get more elsewhere, giddy up. In complement, an academy system, to nurture emerging, homegrown talent proves an efficient way to identify, develop and secure rising elite players. RTÉ could, as a thought, cap the payments to its allegedly flight-risk “Top 10″ at say €150,000 (keeping in mind that it is a Semi-state organisation, and that, for reference, a director of service at a local authority tops out at €122,506). It could use the savings to create an emerging talent pipeline, who can snap at the heels of the incumbent, and when (or maybe if) the current top earners get poached elsewhere, there is a ready-made replacement already togged off, who could well be the star of tomorrow.
Why not put this supposed irreplaceability to the test? The team may perform just as well, or even better, without them. – Yours, etc,
CONOR MOONEY,
Paris.
Sir, – During Covid, we had Golfgate. Now we have Tubridy. The vehemence and the vindictiveness these controversies provoke are extraordinary.
Is everybody else so beyond reproach in their own personal dealings that they can give vent to such anger? – Yours, etc,
JOSEPH McDONNELL,
Churchtown,
Dublin 14.
Sir, – One solution to this crisis would be to get RTÉ to employ one of these “agents to the stars” and have them use the same bluffing techniques on the other side of the negotiating table. – Yours, etc,
JOHN O’CONNELL,
Letterkenny,
Co Donegal.
Sir, – One speaker on RTÉ offered his sympathy in a sonorous voice to the people of Ireland.
Ah now, here. Is our sense of proportion and humanity completely gone? People have been hounded out of office here before.
I think we came to regret it.
We may also regret it if we lose Ryan Tubridy. – Yours, etc,
PAT IGOE,
Shankill,
Dublin 18.
Sir, – I don’t know Ryan Tubridy from Adam, but have spoken to people who have met him on occasion; they’ve been impressed with his genuine friendliness, his readiness in giving his time to everyone he encounters and his empathy. I haven’t met anyone to say anything other than that he is an all-round good egg.
Indeed, his obvious empathy has been manifest in his many interviews with those with difficult stories to tell. Those interviews, although memorable, may not have made for indelible TV or radio moments, but Ryan Tubridy with his essential decency wasn’t in the business of eviscerating vulnerability for the sake of additional ratings.
That said, it is clear in this instance he was at least not as vigilant as he might have been. Okay, he has had a very busy schedule on both TV and radio and probably felt secure in leaving matters surrounding his contracts to his agent and RTÉ management. However, if and when he became aware of his earnings being understated publicly, it was incumbent on him to ask questions of those responsible and correct the record.
In fairness, he has already apologised publicly for this omission.
Unfortunately, Ryan Tubridy has been placed at the centre of this affair right now when it rightly belongs to RTÉ corporately, operating what seems to be its arcane systems. It is to be hoped the whole sorry mess won’t affect his career with RTÉ in the long term – his likability among the public should undoubtedly see him through. – Yours, etc,
LIAM CALDWELL,
Dublin 16.
Sir, – To quote that very worn-out ad promoting RTÉ output, and the overwrought Tubridy payments hysteria, I’ll have to admit that “There’s something about local drama”. – Yours, etc,
TOMÁS FINN,
Cappataggle,
Ballinasloe,
Co Galway.
Sir, – Have you considered the possibility of Ryan Tubridy as the subject of “Me and My Money”, which is a regular feature in your business section? – Yours, etc,
TONY BURKE,
Baldoyle,
Dublin 13.