Former RTÉ correspondent 'absolutely shocked' at exit scheme revelations

Former RTÉ midlands correspondent Ciarán Mullooly has reacted with anger to the latest revelations regarding Voluntary Exit Schemes at the national broadcaster.

Minister for Media Catherine Martin has said the report into RTÉ's voluntary exit programmes demonstrates an "appalling disregard for the principles of equity, fairness and transparency in the treatment of staff".

The report, prepared by Corporate Law firm McCann Fitzgerald and published on Wednesday, found that ten departures, under the 2017 scheme, did not satisfy the requirements of a redundancy within the meaning of the Redundancy Payments Acts.

In these cases, the author of the report said the Revenue Commissioners may take the view that RTÉ should not have applied a tax exemption to these payments.

The report, which runs to more than 70 pages, also found that an exit package for former chief financial officer Breda O'Keeffe was not brought before the broadcaster's executive board, but had been agreed with former director general Dee Forbes.

Reacting to the revelations on social media, Mr Mullooly whose departure was approved under the 2021 scheme, said: "I am absolutely shocked with the revelation from RTÉ that Breda O’Keefe’s voluntary redundancy application was never brought before the RTÉ Executive. In my own case I had to wait for over two months for the executive to even consider my application to leave."

I am absolutely shocked with the revelation from @rte today that Breda O’Keefe’s voluntary redundancy application was never brought before the RTÉ Executive. In my own case I had to wait for over 2 months for the executive to even consider my application to leave 1/2

— Ciaran Mullooly (@ciaranmullooly) January 31, 2024

The well-known journalist and broadcaster was a familiar face on TV screens across the country having worked with the national broadcaster for 27 years before announcing his retirement in June 2021.

He subsequently took up a role as Community Development and Social Enterprise Worker with the Roscommon LEADER Partnership and will shortly take on another new challenge in Longford Tourism.

The former journalist and author started his career as a reporter in the Longford Leader in 1985, later moving to RTÉ, where he worked on the Ear To The Ground show before becoming the broadcaster's midlands correspondent in 1995.

He served as chairman of Longford tourism almost 20 years ago.