Recruitment freeze at RTÉ as Kevin Bakhurst faces Oireachtas committee

It comes as Mr Bakhurst will appear before the Oireachtas media committee alongside RTÉ senior executives and the entire RTÉ Board

RTÉ director general Kevin Bakhurst. Picture: Leah Farrell/RollingNews.ie

RTÉ has introduced a recruitment freeze with immediate effect, Director General Kevin Bakhurst has said.

In an email to staff, Mr Bakhurst also said he was stopping all discretionary spending “to preserve cash whilst we get clarity on our financial position going forward”. 

The email read: “I also wanted to let you know that I will be confirming that we are introducing a recruitment freeze with immediate effect and stopping all discretionary spend to preserve cash whilst we get clarity on our financial position in going forward.

“I regret having to do this as it will impact on our coverage and on our investment in equipment and our digital plans. However, given the steep fall in the licence fee and the uncertainty over interim funding, it is the only responsible thing that we can do.” 

Mr Bakhurst went on to say he hopes he will have more clarity over interim funding in the coming days and weeks and he will update staff on the matter.

It comes as Mr Bakhurst will appear before the Oireachtas media committee later today alongside RTÉ senior executives and the entire RTÉ Board.

In his opening statement to TDs and senators, Mr Bakhurst said any reforms at RTÉ will be undermined if the “question mark of funding is not resolved". He will tell the committee he has moved quickly and decisively over the past eight weeks to address “clear” oversight failings.

“I would caution, however, that all of these reforms will be undermined if the question mark over the funding of public service media in this country is not properly resolved,” he will say.

Mr Bakhurst will say the licence fee system and its supporting legislation as well as its collection methods are no longer fit for purpose.

“The current crisis has made the problem even more acute, and jeopardises the future of public media,” he will say.

Mr Bakhurst will tell committee members that finances within the broadcaster are being managed carefully, in addition to cutting costs “in the face of declining revenue from the TV Licence”.

He will say the Register of Commercial Interests and the Register of External Activities will be key to maintaining standards of impartiality.

RTÉ board chair Siún Ní Raghallaigh will tell the committee that the past months have been “highly damaging” for RTÉ.

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She will say that a secure future for RTÉ is “by no means guaranteed” adding that the erosion of trust has helped to create “immediate financial pressures” at the broadcaster.

“Hard decisions must be made in order to achieve a fit-for-purpose public service broadcaster. These decisions may not be popular with stakeholders and policymakers, including perhaps this committee."

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