Row in Seanad over RTÉ ‘compensation’ to Iona Institute

A row over how much licence fee money RTÉ paid in “financial compensation” to people associated with a Catholic thinktank erupted in the Seanad.

Fianna Fáil senator Averil Power demanded Communications Minister Pat Rabbitte come to the upper house to reveal the amount the State broadcaster gave to figures connected to the Iona Institute after an appearance on a chat show by performer Rory O’Neill, who also has the drag queen persona Panti Bliss.

Ms Power said the minister needed to explain to senators “recent revelations that RTÉ paid financial compensation to individuals associated to the Iona Institute in response to complaints about Rory O’Neill’s interview on the Saturday Night Show”.