National Archives 1985: Pay rises for top RTÉ staff despite station’s money woes

The Government was sharply critical of the RTÉ Authority 30 years ago over its sanctioning of a large-scale pay rise for its senior staff at a time when the station was in serious financial difficulty.

Two government departments and the Labour Court also clashed over attempts to solve a pay dispute at the State broadcaster.

State papers show the then labour minister, Ruairi Quinn, expressed concern that an interim finding by the Labour Court in April 1985 on a pay claim for senior managers in RTÉ would have major pay implications for the rest of the public sector if it was accepted. Mr Quinn said the ruling would have to be seen in the light of the station’s serious financial situation, including a major deficiency in its pension fund.