RTÉ external activities register shows number of people paid up to €10,000 for nixers

RTÉ approved six nixers worth between €5,001 and €10,000 in the space of three months.

In total, 106 external activities were approved between April and June 2024. However, the national broadcaster did not divulge the names of the stars who were paid for external work or the exact amount they were paid.

They also said the register may not include people with “ongoing commercial arrangements” and mainly examined “one-off” events.

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RTÉ published the Register of External Activities for quarter two of 2024 on Thursday afternoon. It covered payments made between April and June. Director General Kevin Bakhurst introduced the register following a spate of financial scandals in the broadcaster last year, which increased scrutiny on the number of nixers being carried out by people working in the organisation.

The Data Protection Commissioner (DPC) advised that RTÉ could not publish the names of those who did the jobs without new legislation being introduced by the Government. Between April and June, there were 106 activities approved. For 50 per cent of these activities (53), there was no payment or benefit received.

In 29 per cent of activities (31), payments ranged between €1 and €1,000. Some 15 per cent of activities (16) came with pay cheques between €1,000 and €5,000. In 6 per cent of cases (six), people were paid between €5,001 and €10,000.

RTÉ stated that in each case, a group of senior line managers decided “whether to approve or not approve an application to engage in an external activity”.

“The core consideration in determining whether or not to approve is centred on RTÉ’s obligation under the broadcasting legislation for impartiality,” the broadcaster said in a statement.

The register covers the “five main editorial divisions of RTÉ”, which include News and Current Affairs, Sport, Content (TV), Radio 1 and Raidío na Gaeltachta and RTÉ 2FM/Lyric fm/Gold. RTÉ also noted that external activities are typically “once-off” activities, such as “to MC an event, launching an event or product, speaking at a conference”.

It does not, it said, include people working with RTÉ who have “ongoing business interests which may involve a commercial relationship with a particular brand or entity and as part of which the person engages in a range of events/activities throughout the year”.

It added: “Individuals who come within this category have a legal and legitimate right to earn an outside income and ongoing commercial arrangements in this category do not necessarily constitute a ‘once-off’ external activity.” Mr Bakhurst said the register “along with other reforms introduced, has marked significant change in RTÉ”.

The first register of external activities, published in August and covering February and March, stated that 133 activities had been approved.

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