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RTÉ presenter Miriam O’Callaghan apologized after being photographed along with other colleagues at a meeting where social distancing was not fully observed.
Several images appeared in the media on Friday, showing some RTÉ staff members posing for photographs with a long-time colleague on their last day of work at RTÉ.
Among those present were Bryan Dobson, David McCullagh and Eileen Dunne, who have apologized for what they described as an error in judgment.
Speaking on RTÉ’s Sunday with Miriam show this morning, Ms O’Callaghan said it was entirely her fault.
She said that as someone who is in the public eye “it is important to lead by example.”
“I disappointed you all and for that I will regret it forever,” he said.
Also pictured at the meeting was Managing Director of News and Current Affairs Jon Williams, who said: “I am deeply sorry that I did not think about the consequences of a momentary error in judgment. It was wrong and I am so sorry.”
Meanwhile, former Minister Éamon Ó Cuív has said RTÉ has not addressed the controversy in the same way that it has dealt with similar incidents.
Speaking to Nuacht, Ó Cuív said that other people who broke the rules, including politicians, did not have the opportunity to apologize on prime-time television without being questioned.
He said that RTÉ dealt differently with its own stars than with others. He said they should have been treated the same as others who violated lockdown rules.
RTÉ has confirmed that a meeting of its Covid-19 Group has taken place, in which the images were discussed, and a review will be carried out.
A follow-up meeting of the Covid-19 Group will take place next week, which will include representatives of the unions.
This afternoon, a spokesperson for Fianna Fáil told RTÉ News that MP Niamh Smyth, who is chairman of the Oireachtas Culture and Media Committee, will raise the issue of RTÉ’s social distancing with the other committee members when he meets next time. to see if they want to take further action.
In a statement last night, Gardaí said that they are “carrying out inquiries focused on the organizers on an alleged incident as described and that the advice of the Director of the Public Ministry will be sought with respect to further actions to be taken.”
“Personal responsibility in attendance, social distancing, the use of masks (other than in public transportation and commercial premises) and other similar public health guidelines are not criminal regulations.”
The Irish secretary of the National Union of Journalists, Seamus Dooley, has described the incident as “an egregious departure from standards.”
Taoiseach Micheál Martin has described the photographs as “very disappointing”.
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