![\"\"](\"http:\/\/irishexaminerusa.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/2.44442560.jpg\")
There is anxiety among the public about the high level of pay for some RT\u00c9 staff, Richard Bruton has said.<\/p>\nThere is anxiety among the public about the high level of pay for some RT\u00c9 staff, Richard Bruton has said.<\/p>\n
RT\u00c9 confirmed it is seeking to cut its workforce by 200 as one of a series of measures to tackle its financial crisis and reduce costs by \u20ac60m over the next three years.<\/p>\n
Salaries for the 10 highest-paid RT\u00c9 presenters, who mainly work as contractors rather than staff, added up to \u20ac3m in 2016.<\/p>\n
Communications Minister Mr Bruton was asked today if he thought it is appropriate that some RT\u00c9 staff earn more than the \u20ac200,000 the Taoiseach is paid to run the country.<\/p>\n
He said: \u201cThere is a lot of anxiety among the general public that some of these pay levels are too high. The plan outlined by RT\u00c9 would see a 10-15% cut in some of those salaries but pay is ultimately a decision for the management and board at RT\u00c9.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey have to decide what the best route is to deliver a sustainable model for public service broadcasting.\u201d<\/p>\n
On Thursday, Taoiseach Leo Varadkar said he was not going to comment on salaries of RT\u00c9 staff compared to his.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m not going to get into issues about what other people are paid or not. There are lots of people in RT\u00c9 who don\u2019t earn big salaries and are working very hard for the money they make,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
The plan, sent to staff on Wednesday, said RT\u00c9 will reduce fees paid to contracted on-air presenters by 15%.<\/p>\n
It said it would consult staff and unions on a number of initiatives, including a pay freeze and tiered pay reductions for existing staff.<\/p>\n
RTE director general Dee Forbes receives a salary of \u20ac250,000, a \u20ac25,000 car allowance and pension contributions of \u20ac63,000 \u2013 bringing her total package to \u20ac338,000.<\/p>\n
Mr Bruton said he put forward his concerns over high levels of pay when he met the RT\u00c9 board on Thursday and they have committed to cutting salaries.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe board have recognized that it (cutting pay) does form part of the solution and there needs to be leadership of it from those in high positions, but ultimately they have to find a balancing act,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere is no doubt some personalities arguably attract additional revenue because of their activities, but I think they have to balance that because they have realized some of the pay levels are too high,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
He said the TV licence fee evasion has contributed to a loss of revenue for RT\u00c9 and that a new tender to collect the charge has been put out that should bring down the evasion rate from 14% to 7%.<\/p>\n
Asked if he thinks RT\u00c9 will be around in five years\u2019 time, he said: \u201cUndoubtedly. I think what we need to see is public service broadcasting adapting to a very changed environment.\u201d<\/p>\n
He said a lot of the content RT\u00c9 makes is very high quality but it needs to attract younger audiences who have migrated to different online platforms such as Netflix.<\/p>\n