Simon Harris: Decision to suspend hiring €240k Fair City photographer the right one

RTÉ had tendered for a photographer to work a 20-hour week over three days, for 50 weeks each year, to produce a minimum of 16 still images for Fair City.

Higher Education Minister Simon Harris says that RTÉ made the right decision to suspend plans to hire a photographer for Fair City.

The Irish Examiner first revealed that the public broadcaster was to spend €240,000 retaining a professional photographer to capture still images of the soap while in production.

The tender required a 20-hour week for the successful applicant over three days, for 50 weeks each year, to produce a minimum of 16 still images for the programme. However, on Sunday, RTÉ said that it has “decided to suspend the current public tender process for Fair City photography”. 

Reacting to the announcement, Mr Harris said that he agrees with the decision to suspend the tender and that RTÉ needed to stop being talked about as a soap opera.

“What it looks to me like [is] we have a Director General who is doing his job and trying to run an organisation,” Mr Harris said. “It’s not for Government ministers to start deciding who takes photographs on what sets of what soap operas.

“I just hope we actually stop talking about RTÉ as a soap opera soon, because when I entered politics, I never thought I’d be asked about photographs on the set of Fair City.”

The decision to scrap the tender comes after RTÉ Director General Kevin Bakhurst announced an immediate hiring freeze as well as plans to stop all discretionary spending.

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“RTÉ will pause the tender process and take time to review the volume of photography required and length of the contract, among other considerations. A revised tender document will issue once these decisions have been made,” a statement read.

“While quality professional photography is essential to enable us to promote our programmes and engage audiences, it is not possible for RTÉ to commit to a four-year contract or to this level of spend given the challenges we now face,” Mr Bakhurst said.

“So, we have decided to take time to consider the best way to balance the needs of the series with the need to reduce costs where we can. We will continue to explore how we can cut costs and maximise funding of our public services through commercial revenue, while also working hard to restore trust in RTÉ.”