Journalist says ageism led to RTÉ retirement

RTÉ’S former southern correspondent has blamed ageism for his departure from the station.

Tom MacSweeney, who was also RTÉ’s Marine Correspondent, said he had not left his job presenting Seascapes on Radio One by choice and blamed rules stipulating compulsory retirement from the public sector at 65.

“I should point out that I have not left Seascapes by choice but because RTÉ Radio One management would not allow me continue to present the programme.

“This is a disappointment after 20 years at the helm of Seascapes, the programme which has been my brainchild and to which I have given a lot of time and effort to develop.

“Retirement from a semi-state body is compulsory at 65 which I regard as an unacceptable example of ageism imposed by politicians who do not apply it to themselves, nor to the judiciary,” he said.

The former southern correspondent said his own preferred cut-off point would be 70 years of age, and while he admitted that there was a need to clear the way for youth, “there should be no ageism in my view” and people should be allowed retire at a time of their own choice.

MacSweeney presented Seascapes for the final time on January 1, and since then it has been produced and presented by Marcus Connaughton.

He said he had voluntarily committed much of his own free time to Seascapes, and that he had worked on the programme for no fee, often funding his own trips.

“I never received, nor sought, in 20 years any payment from RTÉ for working on Seascapes, but regarded this work as an example of commitment to public service broadcasting,” he said.

“The maritime sphere has still not got the support and commitment which is its right, if the Government properly appreciated the true economic value of the sea.”

In the same article in the January edition of The Marine Times, Mr MacSweeney also criticises the decision of Defence Minister Willie O’Dea to retain the Army Equitation School at the same time as funds for some marine training programmes were cut.

A spokesperson for RTE said confirmed that Tom MacSweeney had retired from RTE.

“On taking up employment, it is a condition of employment that staff have a normal retirement age of 65, although many have retired at an earlier date,” a spokesperson said.

“Some provision may be made for retention after 65 if the skillset (eg, deaf signing) is specific and unique and vital to the ongoing provision of public service.

“Independent contractors or suppliers operate under different constraints. In general, self-employed people do not face age limits. There are contractors over the age of 65 who continue to provide services to RTÉ as sole-traders.”