An RTE worker was approved for outside work in which they received more than 10,000 euros, new figures from the organisation indicate.
A register of external activities was one of the key reforms announced in the wake of a series of financial and governance scandals at the national broadcaster.
The register became effective in February. Across February and March, there were 133 approved activities.
A statistical summary of the activities shows that half were recorded as having no payment or benefit to the member of staff or contractor.
Some 26% of the activities fell between the scale of 1-1,000 euros, 22% were between 1,001-5,000 euros, and between 1-2% were between 5,000-10,000 euros.
RTE said “less than 1%” of the 133 activities had a payment of more than 10,000 euros. One out of 133 is roughly 0.75%.
The figures relate to activities, and individual members of staff or contractors may be recorded several times across the bands if they carried out outside work multiple times.
RTE director-general, Kevin Bakhurst said: “It is notable that half of all approved activities did not involve any payment or benefit.
“These are events where those working with RTE give freely of their time for charitable, sporting, community, academic and social reasons.”
RTE director-general Kevin Bakhurst (Brian Lawless/PA)
He added: “I would like to thank all those, staff and contractors, who have fully co-operated with this process.”
RTE said it initially planned to publish the name of the person who received approval, a brief description of the approved activity, and a payment band for the activity.
However, it said the Data Protection Commission said to do so would require the passing of primary or secondary legislation.
RTE said it would not be releasing any further information from the Register of External Activities beyond a statistical summary, but it has made a written request to the Department to proceed with such legislation.
The register covers RTE’s five main editorial divisions: News and Current Affairs, Sport, Content (TV), Radio 1 and Raidio na Gaeltachta, and RTE 2FM/Lyric fm/Gold.
The core consideration in determining whether or not to approve an external activity is centred on RTE’s obligation under the broadcasting legislation for impartiality.
Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou McDonald said it was ‘very unsatisfactory’ that information had been withheld (Brian Lawless/PA)
Requirements of impartiality are more stringent in the area of news and current affairs.
RTE said external activities are typically “once-off” activities such as MC’ing an event, launching a product, or speaking at a conference.
However, the national broadcaster said there are other people working within RTE that 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 or activities throughout the year.
It said: “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.”
It added: “A separate RTE Register of Interests and Gifts Register have also been put in place.”
Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou McDonald said it was “very unsatisfactory” that information had been withheld.