TUBS HITS BAK WITH LAWYERS

RTE receives legal correspondence over 'ending of contract' |Broadcaster faces cuts and sale of HQ to fill funding deficit

-  LOUISE BURNE

RTE has received legal correspondence from Ryan Tubridy over the “ending of his contract”, Director General Kevin Bakhurst confirmed yesterday. 

In a testy Oireachtas Media Committee meeting, Mr Bakhurst insisted the broadcaster is attempting to save its cash to avoid job losses at the station.

He also admitted while RTE is not facing bankruptcy, it cannot afford to offer staff voluntary redundancies.

Mr Bakhurst and other RTE Executives and Board Members were lambasted by some members of the Oireachtas Media Committee as they continued to make the case for more funding.

Fine Gael TD Brendan Griffin said: “My TV licence is up for renewal this month. I wouldn’t trust you with my €160, I ’d rather go down to Murphy’s Bar in Boolteens and buy a round of drinks.

“At least I’d know where my money went.

“I’d get more culture content and I’d get more straight talking from people.”

During the meeting, TDs and Senators were told:

■A valuation of RTE’s Montrose site has been ordered and its sale is under consideration

■RTE would consider leaving Dublin and they have scouted other locations

■ It cannot currently afford voluntary redundancies

■Mr Bakhurst was not aware a €240,000 advertisement for a photographer for Fair City had been issued until after the fact

■Some of the top 100 earners complained about their anonymised salaries being published

■Contracts say car allowances do not have to be spent on cars

■All allowances are now under review, and

■Questions and concerns about Toy Show the Musical raised by the RTE Board went unanswered.

RTE has forecast a licence fee revenue loss of €21million by the end of the year. They are also seeking interim funding of €34.5million.