Revelations on wild tax free RTÉ exit package for top exec leaves more unanswered questions – Dillon

Further revelations about a wild tax free exit package for an RTÉ executive leaves more unanswered questions about the broadcaster’s poor governance and a tax burden that will ultimately be picked up by the public, Fine Gael TD Alan Dillon has said.

Deputy Dillon said details of an eye-watering redundancy payment made to the broadcaster’s former Chief Financial Officer which emerged during the Oireachtas Media Committee will further erode public trust in the broadcaster.

Deputy Dillon said: “There were audible gasps in at the committee hearing when RTÉ Director General Kevin Bakhurst revealed to me that former Chief Financial Officer Breda O’Keefe received a €450,000 exit package when she left in 2020.

“It was previously revealed this exit package was not brought before the executive board before it was approved by former Director General Dee Forbes, and the terms of the exit scheme were not complied with.

“Even more galling is the fact that it will be RTÉ that will be liable to pick up the tax-bill on this eye-watering sum of money.

“This means, ultimately, the taxpayer are on the hook for any potential massive tax bill for this exit package and potentially other packages that we don’t have the full details on.

“We discovered that an exit package was paid to RTE’s former director of strategy Rory Coveney who presided over the Toy Show the Musical debacle and representatives refused to give details of the payments made him. Mr Backhurst claimed details surrounding this payment could not be given for legal reasons and due to confidentiality agreements.

“Surely after the endless scandals eft the public indignant over bad practices at the broadcaster, it is incumbent that the organisation to reveal this information,” Deputy Dillon said.