Tipperary TD Matt McGrath jokingly suggested relocating RTÉ to Mullingar during an Oireachtas debate on Tuesday, 2 July.
RTÉ representatives met with the joint committee on tourism, culture, arts, sport and media during the meeting. Members discussed the report into governance and culture in RTÉ, contract fees, human resources and other matters. Deputy McGrath took aim at RTÉ for recent scandals that rocked the broadcasting company.
“I cannot understand how the sacred cow that is out in Montrose can just do these deals with the nod and a wink to the Secretaries General of both Departments.”
“The law has clearly been flouted. Any other employer attempting to do one thousandth of that could be in prison and would definitely be closed down and out of business.”
Deputy McGrath said “the whole thing is filthy” and suggested RTÉ should sell up Montrose and move out the country. The Tipperary TD said RTÉ needs to take “a much more radical approach” to address the issues.
“RTÉ needs to not only contemplate selling but sell Montrose and drive the sacred cow out past the Red Cow and put the cow out somewhere in the country where we can all have a little go at milking her.”
“We could have it in Portlaoise or Mullingar in the midlands. Bring it back to basics where it started. Look at the tremendous success of TG4.”
