RTÉ seeks savings by shutting Washington DC office

RTÉ is set to close its Washington DC bureau for at least four months in a further cost-cutting measure.

The national broadcaster will bring back its Dublin-born correspondent Richard Downes prematurely and will, it is claimed, advertise to replace him in September in time for the new year.

It is a further blow to the foreign desk, which was deprived of a permanent London presence last year.