Communications Minister calls for pay cuts at RTÉ

Communications Minister Pat Rabbitte said today that RTÉ should consider reducing the salaries of its highly paid stars.

He made the remarks in response to the Fianna Fáil TD Eamon O' Cuiv who called on him to cap the salaries of RTÉ staff to the same level as Government Ministers.

The State broadcaster, which is funded through a mixture of public money and commercial revenues, is expected to report a €30m loss at the end of the year.

"At a time when rte is projecting a deficit at the end of the year of in excess of €30m, that it would be appropriate to look at all levels of salary and remuneration packages in the corporation because it has to survive in a more difficult climate," said Minister Rabbitte.

"There’s been a dramatic collapse in its commercial revenues in the past two years."