RTÉ Staff Member Had Car "On Loan" For Five Years

Wednesday, 5 July 2023 16:29

By Caoimhe Harney

The car was returned yesterday.

The Oirecahtas Media committee has also been asking about car allowances for staff at RTÉ.

After Senator Timmy Dooley asked about brand ambassador deals, and whether someone who was in receipt of a car allowance also had such deals.

Interim Deputy Director General Adrian Lynch told the committee he was aware of one instance where a staff member had a "loan of a car."

"My understanding is that car has been returned," he said.

Asked about the period of the loan, Mr Lynch said it was "for five years" and that it was "not approved".

He adds that the car was only returned yesterday.

The accounts detail the commercial entertainments which RTÉ spent money on during that timeframe including, in the period pre-2019:

€26,000 on Bruce Springsteen and Ed Sheeran concerts
€23,100 on 36 tickets to the 2016 Champions League Final
€32,200 on a ‘cinema’ expense labelled ‘RTÉ Sport no other detail’
€53,700 on RTÉ’s new season launch in August 2018
€21,000 on RTÉ’s client summer party in August 2016
€33,400 on two golf outings held for clients at Powerscourt Golf Club in 2016 and 2018

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