'When will it stop?' - RTÉ says exit package of €400,000 considered for senior staff member

RTÉ may be about to sign off on an exit package of around €400,000 for a senior staff member, it has been revealed.

Terence O’Rourke, the new chair of the RTÉ board, told the Oireachtas media committee on Wednesday that the broadcaster is currently in the middle of a process that “could” result in a payment of €400,000 to a person who cannot be named.

O'Rourke declined to say if the payment would be made to an individual who had refused to appear before an Oireachtas committee.

Asked by Fine Gael TD Brendan Griffin if the RTÉ board had approved an exit package of €400,000, Mr O'Rourke replied that "it could be at that level, yes."

"We haven't signed off on anything yes because it hasn't been concluded yet," he added. "It's in the process."

The process began "a number of months" ago, Mr O'Rourke said, during an appearance before the Joint Committee on Tourism, Culture, Arts, Sport and Media.

It also emerged that Catherine Martin, the media minister, has been made aware of the upcoming exit package for “a number of months”.

O’Rourke, who was appearing before TDs and senators for the first time, was warned that the broadcaster is still considering such exit packages “won’t sit well with the public.”

The RTÉ chair said that employment legislation requires that “well paid” workers be dealt with “equitably” by the board of the company.

“That's what the law requires, Deputy. So we will do what the law requires in order to get the best result for RTE,” he said.

In response, Griffin said that he was “concerned” that such exit packages were still being considered by RTÉ, and questioned when the practice would stop.

“It sits uncomfortably with me that we would still be in that territory. I'm cognizant of all of our legal obligations at every time. But still, that won’t sit well with the public I’m sure. Where is it going to stop? And when is it going to stop, is the question? Because it’s just going on for far too long.” Mr Griffin said.