RTÉ has been preparing for months to start publishing a quarterly list of presenters’ approved work outside the station. Photograph: Gareth Chaney/Collins's plan to disclose the outside earnings of TV and radio presenters has hit a wall after station chiefs were told they had no legal power to publish the information.
Now data regulators have warned RTÉ it has no basis in law to release such earnings, with legal change necessary to clear the way for publication.Taoiseach promises to intervene to help Irish woman detained in Dubai for ‘attempted suicide’Owen Doyle: Ireland-South Africa match officials unlikely to enjoy performance reviews after poor day
The planned register is supposed to set out any external pay in bands up to €1,000, or €1,001-€5,000, €5,001-€10,000 or greater than €10,0000. The rules cover ad hoc work such as “speaking engagements, chairing meetings, joining a panel/discussion group, promoting commercial ventures including draws, raffles, prizes some brand ambassador arrangements”.
Still, a spokesman for the Department of Media said RTÉ has not approached it with any request to the Minister, Catherine Martin, to consider a statutory instrument. The DPC declined to discuss the substance of the talks. “We continue to engage with RTÉ on the matter,” a DPC spokesman said, referring to the question of publishing the register.Asked whether the broadcaster plans to ask the department to change the law, the station cited “extensive engagement with the DPC and the department over the past six months” on the matter.