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RTÉ staff feel that the controversy over the photos that emerged after a staff recall event has made workers “a laughingstock,” a senior source at the station said.
Morale at the company has plummeted and employees have been “shocked” after RTÉ received heavy criticism for allowing an abandonment where social distancing guidelines were violated. RTÉ has received 280 complaints from members of the public after the photos surfaced while Gardaí was meeting with management on Monday as part of an initial investigation. Advice from the DPP will be sought on whether further action is required.
A staff member said that there is also a high level of anger among members of the organization, who feel that their reputation has been tarnished by the actions of a few.
Questions have also been raised about why some members of management took so long to come out and publicly apologize when presenters like Eileen Dunne and Bryan Dobson had to immediately issue statements.
On Monday, RTÉ news director Jon Williams described his attendance at the event as “an error in judgment that I deeply regret.”
A senior staff source says that those working in the organization have been “shocked” by the episode.
“People are baffled and baffled as to why some of the stars were brought in to apologize so publicly while managers were apologizing in internal Zoom meeting calls where not many staff members would have been there to hear it,” said the staff member. personal.
“They feel like he’s made a laughingstock of us all at a very difficult time. We’re all left wondering if someone’s head is going to spin because now it’s starting to get too long and people are very interested in seeing where everything is going to end. “
However, those in the lower echelons of RTÉ are also indulging in a small degree of schadenfruede when it comes to controversy.
“There is some delight and great satisfaction that managers are in the spotlight for this one, for a change,” added the source.
“There has been a lot of comment from them to various reporters about certain news reports and how well the guidelines were being met. They were being ultra-pedantic with some things, so it’s fun to see that the shoe is now on the other foot.” Said the source of RTÉ.
In the meantime, politicians will seek a statement from RTÉ on the events surrounding the party, where high-profile personnel were photographed violating social distancing guidelines.
The Oireachtas Culture and Media committee has agreed to request a full report from the national broadcaster on the circumstances surrounding the organization of the event. .
It will also ask RTÉ to describe the steps it is taking to revise its existing Covid-19 guidelines in light of the controversy.
Oireachtas committee members have said privately that they also want assurances from the broadcaster that what happened will not happen again.
Irish independent
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