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A LABOUR SENATOR has called for the resignation of RTÉ chairman Tom Savage following last week’s meeting of senior management from the broadcaster and the BAI with the Oireachtas communications committee.
The meeting was held to discuss issues arising from the Fr Kevin Reynolds defamation case.
Addressing the meeting last week, Savage said that RTÉ accepted the findings of the BAI inquiry into the Mission to Prey programme and could offer no excuse for the serious lapse that led to the error concerning Fr Reynolds.
He also said that the RTÉ board is undertaking an unprecedented examination of the broadcaster’s programme-making culture to prevent similar mistakes in the future.
However, Labour Senator John Whelan has accused Savage of “spin doctoring” at last week’s meeting:
It is abundantly clear to me from his opening statement that what we were being served up was more Pontius Pilate hand-wringing from a PR professional and a maestro of the art of spin doctoring.
“We now have a farcical proposition that the effective head of RTÉ, its commander-in-chief, is
washing his hands of any responsibility for the systematic failures; poor morale; low standards and in certain elements the group-think culture spawned by the cult of the clique and cronyism.”
“These problems and corporate failures do not emanate from the bottom up but infuse the State
broadcaster from the top down,” Whelan added.
The senator says he will be seconding TD Mattie McGrath’s calls for Savage’s resignation when the committee meets with the chairman on Tuesday.
RTÉ director general Noel Curran is also expected to participate in the meeting.
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A large and complex organisation with a chairman who cannot possibly know every production inside out and has to rely on producers and journalists and frankly, should be able to confidently delegate to them.
A very serious, yet very human error.
A chairman said to be “Spin Doctoring”, which could also becread as trying some damage control as any business head is obliged to do.
The main people involved in the programme have retired, resigned, or otherwise moved on.
Mistakes happen, RTE have not stubbornly defended an indefensible position. They recognise that things needs to change. I would say leave the current guys in place and give them the same opportunity that anyone else deserves; the opportunity to learn from their mistakes.
While what happened to Father Reynolds was horrible I would reckon that the whole episode was not helped by the fact that the various atrocities committed by serving priests past and present make it very easy for anyone to believe anything they hear. Again a lesson learned.
Calling for his resignation now smacks of political bandwagonism. There are more important issues out there.
And as a post script. If political pressure can sway a decision like the resignation of the director of the biggest media station in Ireland, who is to say what kind of influence they may have in the future , smells to me , smells of senators justifying their jobs and as for McGrath , well he is just a numpty.
Senator Whelan an Deputy McGrath need to bring more deliberation and weight to the issues at RTE than merely singing to the choir and craving for a personal headline by calling for the Chairman’s head.
Can somebody explain why RTE is not cut loose and sold to become a fully separate entity not being subsidised by the taxpayer. I have no problem paying bin charges, water charges, the household charge, etc, but it absolutely infuriates me that I have to pay a TV licence for what should be a fully commercial venture. This is not 1950 when broadcasting was such an expensive venture that it needed to be supported. If the government wants to subsidise public interest broadcasting then let it offer grants to any entity that will produce such content. I would have no problem supporting a €25 a year fee for this, but to pay the current licence fee to support the pseudo intellectuals in Donnybrook is just sickening.
“the cult of the clique and cronyism”…….. and politicians would never condone such a culture.
Who’s John Whelan?
I would like to reply to a few points as a Labour Senator with a background in media for over 30 years and now a member of the Oireachtas Communications Committee which has oversight in such matters as broadcasting policy and standards.
I agree with Dave O’Shea that it would be unfair and unhealthy for “political pressure” to be used to remove someone from their post, but it’s not about political pressure in this instance but perhaps political patronage? In the past too many things in this country were let slide and our task and responsibility is to try and ensure public accountability and seek the implementation of high standards in RTE and not double-standards.
Fully agree too with the point made by Myles Duffy that my colleagues and I need to bring some “deliberation and weight” to the debate and not just gung-ho headline grabbing calls for heads on a plate. It’s not fair to shoot first and ask questions later but I have endeavoured to highlight the serious issues of potential conflicts of interest. A culture of impartiality must come from the top and from strong independent leadership. It is my earnest belief that Mr Savage (and it’s nothing personal) has not and is not in a position to provide the leadership required at RTE to restore its reputation and credibility in the sphere of current and public affairs.
Finally, for Frank Faldo, you may not hold Senators in high esteem but we ARE elected and subject to constant and rigorous public scrutiny. The Senate itself faces the possibility of abolition and on that issue everyone will also have their say.
We should leave the staff of R.T.E. alone, they do a job and are more honest than our Government from where i am looking, plus there are more important problems in this Country, to worry about……..
This is the same Tom Savage who’s also director/owner of “The Communications Clinic”, the spin house where Kate Fitzgerald was employed prior to her death.
It is astonishing that Rabbitte who usually has a smart Alec put-down in his pocket for every occasion hasn’t demanded the resignation of the Board. RTE has lost credibility in this matter and others. Ireland is a very small country but the same few dozen people are recycled through RTE talk shows. Ireland is not short of talent at the bottom, but desperately fearful of opening up to new talent at the top. A bit like the establishment political parties. Over the past few weeks I have been listening to NewsTalk coverage of the fiscal treaty debate, I am no expert on broadcasting, but I have found their coverage more balanced, less controlled and qualitatively better than RTE’s.
Dont forget all of them Senators are un elected, and is there any chance of them going away.
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