RTÉ ad featuring paid extras costs €77,000 as staff criticise newsroom 'props'

Kevin Bakhurst, left, defends controversial promo film as staff backlash over newsroom extras and ad budget continues. Picture: Sam Boal/Collins

An ad promoting RTÉ's news output, which will feature paid extras, has cost €77,000 to date, with a total budget of €100,000, TDs and senators have been told.

Filming has taken place in recent weeks for a promotional film which outlines a day in the life of three high-profile reporters, but has prompted some backlash from staff for its use of extras in the newsroom and what have been described as "props".