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A SENIOR FIGURE in RTÉ, Adrian Lynch, has said that financial difficulties at the station led them to the decision to stop making children’s programmes – and also confirmed Fair City will not be outsourced, despite some media reports.
Earlier this week, the public service broadcaster announced that it would stop making inhouse programmes, and would instead outsource vacancies to independent contractors.
In a statement, RTÉ said this decision was taken to achieve better “value for money” in a “challenging financial environment” .
Speaking on RTÉ’s Drivetime today, channel controller for RTÉ One and RTÉ2 Adrian Lynch said the decision to stop making children’s television programmes was taken because of “acute financial difficulties” at the station, which were augmented by the threat of Brexit.
He also said that the organisation had an obligation to outsource €40 million of its production to the independent sector.
Earlier this evening, the Trade Union Group (TUG) said that they had made progress in their talks with RTÉ to stop the move, in the acknowledgement that some of the workers’ rights had been breached as unions were not consulted.
In a statement released to the media, RTÉ and the TUG said:
RTÉ and TUG met today to discuss RTÉ’s decision to transfer of all Young People’s Programming to the independent sector.
RTÉ accepted that there has been a breach of the ‘Guiding Principles Agreement’ which commit to prior consultation on significant issues.
It has been agreed that union and management will enter into comprehensive discussions on this matter in line with our agreements. Discussions will conclude no later than 31 January 2017.
Speaking on Drivetime on this development, Lynch refused to confirm that the move had been suspended until the end of this consultation period (31 January).
He said that the previously mentioned financial difficulties and the obligation of the station to outsource remained, despite the outcome of today’s talks.
But SIPTU campaigns and equality organiser, Karan O’Loughlin, said that the outcome had “highlighted the value of workers, through their trade unions, securing collective agreements with an employer”.
“Throughout the forthcoming period of talks we will be ensuring that our members interests are protected and the public service ethos of the station are safeguarded.”
Yesterday, the decision to outsource children’s programming was discussed in the Seanad – and Jimmy Dignam of the Workers’ Party called the decision “a slippery slope towards further privatisation of a vital public service.”
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I am reading unconfirmed reports that three people have died and a further two people are in a serious condition, a man is in custody, awful news, what is going on ?
@Honeybee: it’s now being treated as a terrorist incident…
@Honeybee: forbury Gardens is in the centre of Reading. A beautiful spot to have your lunch break. There was a Black Lives Matter protest earlier today… I don’t think it has anything to do with what has happened. Unfortunately it’ll be the centre of attention until they find out the reason behind this. Supposedly they have got someone in custody.
@Ann Neylan: I watched the video as it happened.. Totally shocking!…. You can’t unsee things.
@Kate Flaherty: OMG, how frightening, the poor people in the park, to think this could happen to anyone on a lovely day in a public park after all people have gone through in the last few weeks, how cruel.
@Ann Neylan: Ann , this is so shocking, I am so sorry to hear this dreadful news, the poor families who will have to deal with this heartbreak.
@Honeybee: absolutely dreadful!… I’m on the fence where the police are concerned, but I have to say they were doing an amazing job before the ambulances arrived.
@Ann Neylan: hopefully all will recover. Looked pretty awful though.
@Ann Neylan: I think 3 people have died. So heartbreaking for the families involved. The video I saw was people motionless on the ground and police officers giving Cpr. All I can say is fair play to them for trying.
@Ann Neylan: I think you should remember this when it comes to police, they have their bad days but by and large they are men and women doing there best to serve the community.
@Shimmy Shammy: well said
Libyan asylum seeker, named as arrested terror incident suspect. Source ; sky news.
@Chewns: Ironic this happened on World Refugee Day.
We opened are doors to this, and they are still open.
@Braonain Proinseas: oh give over! Ignorance
Terrorist attack. The footage is horrific. Libyan arrested.
@Sylvia O’Regan: How many times can they use the mental illness excuse?
@Chewns: Basically everytime.
@Chewns: yes, it’s like the same thing when that poor Garda was shot the other day, the perpetrator had mental health issues! Still doesn’t justify murder!
@Sylvia O’Regan: Are people sharing footage? I hope you will report them and think of the grieving families before watching it or sharing it yourself.
@Sylvia O’Regan: Reading a few of your comments over the last few days I’m thinking you should join Anti-Corruption Ireland.
@Chewns: so long as they want and ppl believe it
As if people don’t have enough to deal with without these fanatics making life harder.
2 “Asians” arrested in the town square.
@Chewns:
One arrested
Not looking good. Sky News describing “major incident”
@Vladimir Macro: It’s more likely to be Islamists/Jihadists rather than anything to do with BLM.
@Vladimir Macro: you must feel pretty stupid as it was nothing got to do with BLM.
@Vladimir Macro: because the attack had nothing to do with BLM gathering. That’s why.
@James Walsh: it is unless other terrorist are adopting the Allah Akbar chant
@Johnny 5: you have proof of that
Anyone sharing footage of this tragic incident should be reported to the relevant authorities. The grieving families are going through enough torture without knowing their loved ones murder is all over WhatsApp and Facebook. My thoughts are with the victims families at this sad time. Hoping those injured make a full recovery.
@Johnny 5: well said, for all the flak the media gets anymore, they at least are professional and have an established protocol for sensitive matters such as this.
Ah shure it’s just “part and parcel of living in a big city”
3 white Brits stabbed in the neck and another 10 white Brits or so seriously injured by an ethnic minority migrant after a BLM event in Reading park. More carnage was avoided by the heroism of a police officer.
@Merlin Lancelot: Hopefully he was a white police officer, then you can feel even more smug than you do right now.
That’s horrible, hopefully everyone makes a speedy recovery x
Ya blm lol guaranteed
@Seosamh Púinse: it’s not
“Part and parcel”
It has been confirmed, 3 people killed and more with very serious injuries
RIP to those murdered and a hopefully quick recovery to the injured
Dublin Live headline. Could of just said reading
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