To quote TV3's Mark Cagney on Ireland AM this morning: "Poor Pat Kenny will have to get by on €600,000 a year."
That's not all, Mark, spare a tear for Ryan Tubridy, Joe Duffy, Miriam O'Callaghan, and yer man Brian O'Connell off the news who's being shunted back to Montrose thanks to the close of the London office.
These latest (and long overdue) cuts were announced yesterday in a bid to "reduce costs up to €25million by the end of 2012." Good Lord, just how much is Joe Duffy on??!
RTE.ie reports: "There will also be a reduction in spending on regional divisions, with 'specific decisions to be finalised over the next quarter and communicated to News, Radio and operational staff.' Further measures will see a minimum of 10% reduction in the budget for aquiring oversees programming. The announcement of a minimum 30% cut in pay for top earning presenters will apply to the top 20 best-paid staff - RTE had previously sought this level of reduction from its 10 best-paid staff only." Apart from Derek Mooney, 'cause he owns the gaff.
Director General Noel Curran said last night: "Key goals include eliminating the financial deficit; delivering on clearly-defined output priorities; and becoming a truly multimedia organisation that embraces the opportunities provided by digital technologies. Clearly RTE must innovate and remain relevant to the needs of the Irish public, guaranteeing our public value. Our operations and delivery must be cost effective. We must be excellent. In achieving all of these things, as we can and will, we will secure our future. So it is vital that we make these changes... Significant change will be required so that work practices become simpler, more flexible, more effective. All change will be through negotiation."
OK, so less red tape, but more meetings? Yay! I'll look forward to the cut in the TV Licence.
