Tag Archives: RTE

From top: David McCullagh and Miriam O’Callaghan flank Phil Collins at her retirement party in RTÉ

This afternoon.

That RTÉ gathering…

…RTÉ’s Health and Safety Review has found that five breaches occurred; three breaches of COVID-19 public health advice, one breach of the Plan for Living with COVID-19 Level 5 restrictions and a breach in RTÉ’s internal COVID-19 Protocols;

Via RTÉ:

Some people did not maintain social distancing during the gathering.

Where the two meters social distance was breached, some people were not wearing face coverings.

There was a breach of the requirement to avoid crowded places.

There was a breach of the Plan for Living with COVID-19 as there should not have been any indoor gathering which does not form part of RTÉ’s delivery of an essential service.

There was a breach of internal RTÉ COVID-19 Protocols for visitors to our site.

RTÉ Director General, Dee Forbes said: “These breaches should not have occurred and, as Director General, I am sorry that this happened. What makes this all the more disappointing is that this incident is not representative of the way our staff conduct their work in general, which is to be absolutely diligent in relation to public health guidelines and COVID-19 protocols.”

From the outset of the COVID-19 pandemic, as an essential service, RTÉ has been pro-active in prioritising the health and safety of our employees and contractors,as well as those necessarily visiting our sites to contribute to our programmes, while also delivering vital news, information and entertainment to the public.

Dee Forbes added:”A close look at any of our productions over these past months, across our television, radio and online services, highlights our commitment to ensuring everyone who visits RTÉ is in a safe environment. However, on this occasion we fell short of our own standards. It is essential that we all learn from this and that none of us is complacent about the risks of COVID-19. We all have a role to play in protecting ourselves and others.”
In this context, RTÉ’s Health and Safety Review makes five main recommendations:

1. All present at the gathering to retake RTÉ’s COVID-19 induction training;
2. Implementation of a communications plan to reinforce RTÉ’s COVID-19 protocols;
3. Discussion of findings and lessons learned with RTÉ’s COVID-19 representatives;
4. Review of RTÉ’s visitor access and protocols;
5. Ongoing review of RTÉ’s COVID-19 protocols.

That’ll learn them.

Full review here.

RTÉ review finds breaches of Covid-19 restrictions at retirement gathering (RTÉ)

FIGHT!

Earlier: Hi Dee Hi

RTÊ Director General Dee Forbes

 

This morning.

Further to Rtegate…

…Via RTÉ:

Chair of the Oireachtas Communications Committee Niamh Smyth has said events surrounding a retirement gathering at RTÉ are of huge concern and clarity and a forthright statement from the organisation is needed.

She told RTÉ’s Today with Claire Byrne she did not accept that it was an “impromptu” event and she said that the Communications Committee has a responsibility to ask questions about how this event happened in the first place.

We are in Level 5 lockdown, she said, “and this is an indoor social gathering”.

‘Clarity’ needed from RTÉ over social distancing breach (RTÉ)

Meanwhile…

FIGHT!

Saturday: Crimecall

This morning’s Irish Daily Mail

Gulp.

This morning.

Yesterday: Hold Firm

RollingNews

Meanwhile…

Good times.

Tonight.

Earlier…

Tonight.

Meanwhile…

This evening.

Earlier…

Oh.

This afternoon.

More as we get it.

Earlier…

From top: At retirement party for RTE receptionist supervisor Phil Collins (right) were RTE News chiefs Hilary McGouran (left) and Jon Williams (centre); Bryan Dobson; Broadcasters David McCullagh (left) and Miriam O’Callaghan; Today’s Irish Sun

This morning.

Via The Irish Sun:

RTE’s top news stars apologised last night after it emerged they briefly posed for photos without masks or socially distancing at a leaving bash for a colleague.

Hosts Bryan Dobson, David McCullagh and Miriam O’Callaghan were among attendees at an “impromptu gathering” for departing Phil Collins.

All three stars apologised and an RTE spokesperson told the Irish Sun:

“RTE and those involved regret this occurred . . . Over the last few days we reminded all staff of their obligations to keep themselves and the site safe.”

The state broadcaster last night confirmed a “small number” of officials and on-screen talent attended a low-key bash earlier this month.

RTE’s top news stars apologise over briefly posing for pics with no masks or distancing at colleague’s farewell bash (Irish Sun)

Update:

Dr. Gabriel Scally

On Today with Claire Byrne on RTÉ Radio One.

Claire Byrne asked Public health physician. Professor Gabriel Scally about the RTÉ gathering…

“I was actually speechless when I saw the photographs. It’s quite remarkable, people standing with their arms around each other, amazingly photographs of people close together, standing on a mat which says ‘keep at least two metres distance’. A mat that says it and they’re standing on it with their arms around each other’s backs and around each other’s shoulders in some cases. And not only, I understand it was, the view will be it was a momentary absence of caution but these photographs were put up on the RTÉ’s internal website. I think it’s astounding.”

Dr Scally added:

“I was looking on RTE’s news website there for their coverage to see what the position was but I can’t find anything about it on RTÉ’s news website…”

Ms Byrne then read out a statement from RTÉ News boss Jon Williams, which said:

“I deeply regret not thinking through the consequences of a momentary lapse of judgment. It was wrong and I’m very sorry.”

Dr Scally responded:

“Well that’s good, I think saying sorry is the right thing to do…because it was irresponsible, it was a terrible lapse, not just on behalf of one or two people but quite a number of people.”

Later, Ms Byrne said:

“Just on the photographs, RTE tell is that the photographs were published on a website for retired RTE staff. It’s a public website run privately by former RTE staff members so it’s not strictly the RTE internal website, just to clarify that.”

Meanwhile…

Meanwhile…

Ryan Tubridy hosting the Late Late Toy Show in 2018

This morning.

Via RTÉ:

Late Late host Ryan Turbidly has revealed that he already knows what costume he will wear and what song he will be singing on this year’s top secret Toy Show, adding that it will lead to “some goofy looking scenarios”.

However, he is keeping everything under wraps, saying, “Nobody will be able to predict anything because we’re going somewhere completely different for us.”

Ryan Tubridy teases this year’s top secret Toy Show (RTÉ)

Meanwhile…

Michael Francis writes:

Conceived as a slot filler when guests were in short supply in winter several moons ago.

Driven and expanded with support of big budget makers and sellers of toys.

Consisting of:

* A frenzied audience – with the mood stoked by free stuff in all its forms and tax free for selected employee and favour-friends

* A collection of children to perform (even if far away from home, late at night)

* A ‘star’ from whom a favour is called in to ‘surprise’ a telegenic child (enter Paul Mescal/Michael D. The President/Maura Higgins)

* A presentable family with a current difficulty (for a low budget feel good story)

*An MC to introduce bits and fool around

*A puppet or two

Promoted shamelessly, and endlessly as if a blockbuster movie.

Pushed with a dollop of free money from the licence fee kitty and help including that of ‘friends’ and others struggling to fill paragraphs in July, August, Sept, Oct and November.

Marketed persistently for months, despite (surely for some) each mention being another dent in mental wellbeing as minds are directed to dark and dreary winter nights ahead.

Scheduled in a late night slot (sssh….about the sleep well-being of children).

The ‘flagship’ episode of the ‘flagship programme’ of the doubly-funded operation that likes to identify itself as the ‘national broadcaster’.

Never a word spoken of parents on their way to DePaul in an attempt to deliver the selection of a sleep deprived child.

Never called out for what it is.

Not replicated in another country – a unique franchise. The slot-filler nurtured to be the RTÉ self-indulgent present, a gift to self.

FIGHT!

Rollingnews

Enda Kenny will present a programme on Irish railways

This morning.

Via Independent.ie:

Later this year the former Taoiseach and Fine Gael leader will front a television series on RTÉ 1 about old Irish railways from times past. Mr Kenny, a fluent Irish speaker, will present the series in Irish.

Mr Kenny is understood to be enjoying revisiting the old railways in Mayo and adjoining counties, as well as throughout the country.

Always a keen student of history, he is developing a new-found interest in railway history.

Meanwhile…

….The evisceration of Irish railways mainly occurred in the decades Enda’s father, Henry Kenny, served as a TD and eventually a junior government minister.

Luckily some railways survived in his native Co Mayo, unlike other counties.

Good times.

Full steam ahead as Enda Kenny to present RTÉ show (Independent.ie)

Previously: A New Age Of The Train

Rollingnews

One down, two across (obviously).

*kicks telly*

RTÉ launches autumn schedule for TV, radio and online (RTÉ)