RTÉ Director General Kevin Bakhurst and other senior executives appeared before the Oireachtas Media Committee today amid tensions with the coalition over a failure to disclose how many staff have left this year as part of a voluntary exit programme.
Speaking on broadcaster’s decision to boycott Eurovision, Mr Bakhurst said there were a number of reasons why the broadcaster made the decision not to participate, including the casualties in Gaza, the 200 journalists killed there and foreign journalists not being allowed into the war zone by Israel.
The leadership was 100pc united, Mr Bakhurst said and had the full backing of the board as well as the people who work on Eurovision in RTÉ.
He added that he believed the decision was “properly handled” by RTÉ and it is clear that the public supported the decision to withdraw from the competition.
Mr Bakhurst referenced the recent Sunday Independent / Ireland Thinks poll which showed 79pc of those surveyed supported the role.
Credit to : Irish Independent