NUJ Statement on the resignation of Siún Ní Raghallaigh chair of RTÉ board
The resignation and the circumstances surrounding her departure will be a further blow to the morale of staff. The last thing needed in RTÉ is another crisis, said Séamus Dooley, NUJ Irish Secretary
The future of public service broadcasting, the employment of RTÉ staff and of those engaged in the freelance and independent production sectors should not be undermined by ongoing controversies. The resignation of the chair is the latest twist in an ongoing saga which has gravely damaged morale of staff and undermined public confidence.
The government must act immediately to appoint a new chair to avoid a period of further uncertainty.
In my dealings with Siún Ní Raghallaigh, I found her to be a person of integrity, collaborative, sensitive to the concerns of staff and committed to public service. Minister Catherine Martin has also shown herself to be aware of the legitimate concerns of staff and clearly acknowledges the depth of anger among staff at recent revelations regarding payments to executives exiting the organisation.
The NUJ has consistently demanded full transparency in relation to all aspects of executive renumeration and it behoves the Government to ensure that this is delivered.
The ongoing failure of successive governments to reform the funding of public service broadcasting in Ireland has contributed to the crisis in RTÉ. The latest developments should not distract from this priority.