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Dooley v Dooley clash over RTÉ


In one of his last acts before his removal as Fianna Fáil spokesperson on communications, Timmy Dooley incurred the wrath of the NUJ and sister unions when he called for compulsory redundancies at RTÉ. In an interview with Laura Slattery of The Irish Times, the Clare TD also claimed that many RTÉ staff were doing what he termed “unnecessary tasks” and called on RTÉ unions and workers to “step up to the plate”. Dooley’s sweeping support for compulsory


redundancies, made before RTÉ had presented proposals for the restructuring of the organisation, angered Trade Union Group officers. They availed of the coincidental opportunity


of a visit by Timmy to the Sean O’Rourke Show to challenge his comments at an informal meeting in the Radio Centre. Irish Secretary Séamus Dooley (no relation)


took to Twitter to challenge the basis for Timmy’s assertions and had already written to the TD before his Radio Centre encounter. In his letter the Irish Secretary acknowledged Fianna Fail’s support for additional funding for RTÉ but challenged Dooley’s assertions in relation to redundancies and productivity. He told Dooley: “RTÉ employees, including NUJ members, are currently awaiting proposals from RTÉ on reorganisation and possible job cuts. We have seen no plan and received no timeline for any restructuring. “In that context it seems strange that the Fianna Fáil spokesperson on Communications should appear to publicly support the concept of compulsory redundancies. You have also


done so without seeking a meeting or input from the RTÉ Trade Union Group.


“As far as I can establish this is a new departure for Fianna Fáil and is inconsistent with the approach to commercial semi state companies within your brief, such as Bord na Mona. Please feel free to correct me if I am wrong on this point. “


Pointing out that he had been involved in


negotiating a number of agreements in RTÉ on behalf of the NUJ, including the landmark ‘Guiding Principles’ agreement which provide the foundation for managing change in RTÉ, Séamus strongly disputed the claim of “unnecessary talks”.


The 2013 agreement, he explained, includes


“This is a new departure for Fianna Fáil and is inconsistent with the approach to commercial semi state companies within your brief”


clauses on teamwork and cooperation, facilitating change and improvements and flexibility, mobility and multi-tasking. He added: “Where agreements have not been fully utilised or the flexibilities not exploited it has been due to management decisions so your call for unions to ‘step up to the plate’ is difficult to comprehend. “The agreement stands the test of time. So too does the internal mechanism, the Industrial Relations Tribunal,


a model which reflects a partnership approach to IR which has served RTÉ well.” Deputy Dooley responded by text, offering to


meet the NUJ official and insisting that the “balance” of his comments should be considered. Timmy Dooley was subsequently demoted


for delegating the necessary task of voting in the Dáil.


The NUJ will now seek a meeting with his replacement, Deputy Jack Chambers.


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