Mattie McGrath Questions RTE Zero-Hour Contracts and Pay Deals
Mattie McGrath challenged RTE leadership over zero-hour contracts, high top salaries and agent-negotiated pay deals. He pressed Mr Lynch on the board's corporate governance and asked for clarity on how many RTE personalities Noel Kelly negotiates for, arguing the board faces a crisis of confidence.
Questions on contracts and salaries
Mattie McGrath asked how the RTE board can justify having several staff on zero-hour contracts while senior figures receive six-figure salaries and additional top-ups. He said the disparity contributes to an "obvious lack of faith" in the board and sought action to address staff concerns.
Agent negotiations and client numbers
McGrath pressed for the true number of people for whom Noel Kelly negotiates pay deals, noting that Noel Kelly's website lists at least a dozen well-known RTE faces. He challenged Mr Lynch's earlier suggestion that there might be "four or five" clients among top earners and demanded clearer figures.
Corporate governance and on-air suitability
He raised issues of corporate governance and cited Mr Lynch's comment that it would be "untenable" to have Ryan Turbide on air in the circumstances. McGrath questioned whether the board's position remains tenable given the governance concerns he outlined.
Responses on employment policy
In reply, Mr Lynch emphasised an "employment first" approach, stating that recent processes aimed to ensure staff are employees rather than on zero-hour contracts and that a policy to provide common terms and conditions has been developed. McGrath repeated his call for transparency and resolution on contract and pay negotiations.
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I apologise, I had to go in to speak in the chamber twice, and this question may have been asked, I don't know, when I was absent, how can the board of RTE justify several of their own staff on zero hour contracts, while allowing the top salaries of several, you know, several hundred thousand, not to mention the top ups that we're discussing here today, and how can they justify that, and there's an obvious lack of faith in the board, and will you do something to placage? All your general staff, and especially the ones that are on zero hour contracts, and just as a follow up, then, look, Adrian Lynch, you just told the committee, maybe this answers, the response to Senator Byrne's question, that Noel Kelly might have four, might have five clients working at RTE, working at RTE, Noel Kelly's website today shows at least a dozen well-known RTE faces, can you please, let's have the true number, how many people, people, and Noel Kelly is negotiating pay deals for? Just on. I'm kind of touched on that, but what I'm going to do is I'm going to bring in Deputy McGrath, or sorry, McNamara to ask his question as well, and then let them sum up in responding to both. Is that okay? Deputy McGrath. Yeah, if I can ask directly, Mr. Lynch, you said it would be untenable to have Ryan Turbide on air in the circumstances. You spoke repeatedly about a breach of corporate governance. You used that word countless times. I mean, ultimately, it's the board's responsibility. to ensure that corporate governance is adhered to, in those circumstances, is the board's position tenable. Thank you. Deputy McGrath, who would you like to answer your question? Mr Lynch. Okay, I think it's Mr Lynch for both, maybe. Deputy McGrath. Just in terms of that, Deputy McGrath, the reason I said four or five was I thought you were talking about the top ten. The reason I said four or five when asked earlier was because I thought you were talking about the top ten earners. Well, I haven't looked at those on the right side to the chair, but I don't know whether the top ten or top 20, so that's not an answer, really. And the zero-hour contracts, how do you send over that? Are you going to continue? That was a question I asked as well. In terms of, it's employment first in RT. It's employment first. We've just been through a process, to ensure that you're an employee or nothing. Yeah. It shows you zero-hour contracts, everybody is on an employment contract. I have developed a policy so that we'll... With the same terms and conditions. I have, yeah, for everybody. Categorically. Yes. Yes. This legislation is huge. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Again, and I can see auts are successful at 10,000 meters. Yes.
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