Mandatory Drug Tests for RTE Employees for Licence Fee?

OurLadyofKnock

Considering just how much of the TV licence free went up Gerry Ryan's nose - the fact has to be seriously considered that this tax which is gained by RTE through threats and intimidation of otherwise law abiding citizens is being used by other lavishly reumerated RTE employees too. In fact, I can tell you judging by their behaviour and poor performance it has to be the default culture of the luxurious lifestyles in Donnybrook.

As Joe Duffy sucessfully led a campaign (for no reason) to shut down harmless head shops while his co-parasite and "good friend" at RTE Gerry Ryan was using his nasal passage as tax-payer funded conveyor belt between Columbia and his Brain - it is only fair that as long as the TV Licence is being paid that ALL RTE emplyees must be subjected to random annual drug testing. MANDATORY.

It they are going to "shakedown" poor people to pay for their drugs and champange lifestyles then it is only fair that a 'checks and balances' scenario is implemented to make sure another bloated cokehead like Ryan can't refuse a pay cut to his dealers at Donnybrook.

FatherLen

you really hate rte!
and i dunno if the head shops could be considered harmless.

vangoz

OurLadyofKnock wrote: »

Considering just how much of the TV licence free went up Gerry Ryan's nose

I honestly stopped reading after this sentence

NSNO

How did his coke habit affect your consumption of RTE media?

All mandatory drug tests will lead to is taxpayer-subsidised rehab for their 'stars' and endless 'My Journey' type programmes of b-list fame, drug addiction and redemption..

No thanks.

Wertz

Far better to start with an IQ test...

--Kaiser--

Better yet, a mandatory Ryan Tubridy test; if you're Ryan Tubridy, you're fired

The King of Moo

At the end of the day it's their wages. What would be a better idea would be to pressurise RTE to pay them less as we all know some of the astronomical salaries they receive.

It sounds like a nice idea to hold state employees to account for the money they receive, but why limit it to RTE? Why not drugs tests for all civil servants?

And why stop at drugs tests? Why not constantly surveil them to make sure they're not spending their money on any illegal activites?

It's just not practical and from a civil liberties point-of-view I don't like the idea of random drug tests for non-sportspeople.

OurLadyofKnock

The King of Moo wrote: »

from a civil liberties point-of-view I don't like the idea of random drug tests for non-sportspeople.

I agree - however from a the same standpoint what about Joe Duffy and his animals on the Liveline going after headshops?

Are you telling me Duffy just has an issue with irony?

OurLadyofKnock

vangoz wrote: »

I honestly stopped reading after this sentence

Why because it never happened?

amacca

OurLadyofKnock wrote: »

As Joe Duffy sucessfully led a campaign (for no reason) to shut down harmless head shops

Thats debatable..(the harmless bit and the no reason bit)

OurLadyofKnock wrote: »

while his co-parasite and friend at RTE Gerry Ryan was using this nasal passage as tax-payer funded conveyor belt between Columbia and his Brain

Thats hilarious..(love the imagery..you've broken even in my view at this point)

OurLadyofKnock wrote: »

it is only fair that as long as the TV Licence is being paid that ALL RTE emplyees much be subjected to random annual drug testing. MANDATORY.

No its only fair that they not get paid quite as much given that the cost of this rigorous drug testing programme would probably be added to your license fee (the stations costs etc)

listening to mooney now in my grannys kitchen................in my view some of rtes programming could only benefit if the hosts were forced to take some drugs

7sr2z3fely84g5

They earn more than the taoiseach-

http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/ireland/2011/0527/1224297853692.html

In 2008, the last year for which figures are available, Pat Kenny was RTÉ’s highest-paid presenter, earning a salary of €950,976; followed by the late Gerry Ryan on €629,865; Marian Finucane on €570,000; and Ryan Tubridy on €533,333.
Those figures do not reflect the 10 per cent cut they all agreed to take, and RTÉ management has been keen to stress that renegotiated contracts are substantially lower than were negotiated in the boom years.

The King of Moo

OurLadyofKnock wrote: »

I agree - however from a the same standpoint what about Joe Duffy and his animals on the Liveline going after headshops?

Are you telling me Duffy just has an issue with irony?

If we knew that Joe knew about Gerry's coke habit (and any other drug use that might have been going on in RTE) then he was being hypocritical, but we can't be sure he knew what was going on.

I don't think Joe got invited to all of the wildest parties, in fairness to him .

foxyboxer

How about mandatory drug tests for people who watch rté?

AgileMyth

They're paid far too much, think we all agree on that. Its not our concern what they spend their income on though and frankly I couldn't give a flying fuck if they want to snort coke 'til they're blue in the face.

super_furry

You want to test Jean Byrne for drugs? Christ, there goes the only reason I watch the weather.

daniels.ducks

I will not pay my next broadband fee because some people on boards are taking drugs? Who knows, some of the Mods could be on drugs?






:rolleyes:

It's like saying that I refuse to pay for my car tax because some of the county council men are on drugs... who knows, god forbid, some of them might drink! :eek:

amacca

--Kaiser-- wrote: »

Better yet, a mandatory Ryan Tubridy test; if you're Ryan Tubridy, you're fired

yeah but that should be just the thin end of the wedge as it were

the scheme could be later expanded to include such luminaries as Derek Mooney, Blathnaid Ni Chofaigh et al

Lux23

Personally I think all drug use should be decriminalised but I wouldn't differentiate between headshop gear and other supposedly stronger stuff, none of it is by any means harmless. And I would include alcohol in that.

knird evol

daniels.ducks wrote: »

:rolleyes:

I think you misread our Ladies post is advocating mandatory drug tests for rte staff - as opposed to advocating not paying her tv licence.

The broadcasters and support staff in there need a 90% pay cut. To bring them down to something like two or three times the average industrial wage. The problem is their employer, the govt, wants to keep them sweet.

Wertz

To be fair I reckon there's plenty of staff in RTÉ that get paid a normal wage (and will probably be the poor f*ckers that lose their job in any cost saving measures)...it's the higher ups, management, admin and most of all Big Names that are taking the mick...just like any branch of the public sector

super_furry

amacca wrote: »

yeah but that should be just the thin end of the wedge as it were

the scheme could be later expanded to include such luminaries as Derek Mooney, Blathnaid Ni Chofaigh et al

Yeah fair enough, but you have to tell he she's sacked.

Scary, scary woman.

Thud

this just in:

Among RTE's Autumn line up of new shows is "Celebrity Drugdealer". Over the course of this 62 part series, 6 of Irelands top celebrities will test their mettle in the skank eat skank world of Irish drug dealing to see who can afford the most bullet proof BMW's.
Shirley Temple bar will be sent to Moyross, Gerald Fleming will try to climb the ranks Clondalkin, colm Murry will be running drugs through various Cork harbours while Baz Ashmawy will be based in the RTE toilets. Other celebrities rumoured to be in the line up are Daithi dealing craic in Kerry, Rachel Allen selling here own brand of brownies to college students and some other washed up celebrities you haven't heard from in years...

arybvtcw0eolkf

The King of Moo wrote: »

Why not drugs tests for all civil servants?

The King of Moo wrote: »

It's just not practical and from a civil liberties point-of-view I don't like the idea of random drug tests for non-sportspeople.

Just for your info, all ranks in both the Permanent Defence Forces and the Reserve Defence Forces are liable for random drug testing.

As for the practicalities; takes up a little bit of your time while you wait for the piss test and seem's to run smooth enough.

But just what good it would do to bring it into RTE beats me.

mackg

No leave them off. Whats the ponit in becoming famous if you can't get off your tits? bunch of party poopers around here

Chuck Stone

Folk should stay the fuck out of others people's business imo.

The King of Moo

Jeffery Nutritious Meteoroid wrote: »

Just for your info, all ranks in both the Permanent Defence Forces and the Reserve Defence Forces are liable for random drug testing.

As for the practicalities; takes up a little bit of your time while you wait for the piss test and seem's to run smooth enough.

But just what good it would do to bring it into RTE beats me.

I didn't know that but it makes sense. I can understand having drugs tests for the defence forces as you want them to be at the top of their game physically, but like you say, I don't see how it would apply to rte, especially as as far as I know, Gerry Ryan is the only personality who we know for sure was taking drugs.

RustyNut

Surly they don't need their drugs tested, if they can't afford the best of gear what hope for the rest of us...

arybvtcw0eolkf

The King of Moo wrote: »

I didn't know that but it makes sense. I can understand having drugs tests for the defence forces as you want them to be at the top of their game physically, but like you say, I don't see how it would apply to rte, especially as as far as I know, Gerry Ryan is the only personality who we know for sure was taking drugs.

I think G.R. (and I was a fan of his for awhile) was just a greedy bastard.

If it wasn't coke, it was bragging of dining in the best restaurants, drinking the finest wines. Driving expensive car's, going to N.Y, London, Paris or Rome for his tailored suits and speaking of friends in high places - and this was a DJ on a sh*tty little island!.

G.Ryans greed & gluttony killed him as much as anything else and I don't think we should/could punish other's in RTE for that.

The King of Moo

Jeffery Nutritious Meteoroid wrote: »

I think G.R. (and I was a fan of his for awhile) was just a greedy bastard.

If it wasn't coke, it was bragging of dining in the best restaurants, drinking the finest wines. Driving expensive car's, going to N.Y, London, Paris or Rome for his tailored suits and speaking of friends in high places - and this was a DJ on a sh*tty little island!.

G.Ryans greed & gluttony killed him as much as anything else and I don't think we should/could punish other's in RTE for that.

Exactly, I don't see why we should be concerned with how people in RTE spend their money, and punish others if we don't like how some of them live.
We can certainly complain about how much the biggest names get, but once they have the money it's theirs to spend how they want.

recylingbin

Why does anyone care what they do with their money?
They could throw it all into a blender, transfer to a syringe and inject it into their cat for all I give a ****.

edit:

--Kaiser-- wrote: »

Better yet, a mandatory Ryan Tubridy test; if you're Ryan Tubridy, you're fired

I can get behind this all the same.

LaVail

I think it should be mandatory for all RTE staff to get twisted at least three times per week. Pat Kenny could do with a bit of loosening up.

Solair

what would be more useful would be to implement actual financial transparency at RTE.

They aren't really justifying high pay rates as I don't really see how their competitors would be able to pay those kinds of salleries.

Logical Fallacy

Never mind drug tests, give them personality tests and the place would be empty.

stevenmu

If you really want to stop tax money being spent on drugs then how about drug testing people on the dole. If they test positive no more dole for them.

That would cut the amount of tax euros being spent on drugs. Or we could just carry on with pointless RTE bashing.

ScumLord

If anything they should be forced to take more drugs. RTE is boring and needs some thing to liven it up.

Mike 1972

Im as up for a spot of RTE bashing as the next man but this idea is patently ridiculous.

whoopdedoo

recylingbin wrote: »

Why does anyone care what they do with their money?
They could throw it all into a blender, transfer to a syringe and inject it into their cat for all I give a ****.

edit:

--Kaiser-- wrote: »

Better yet, a mandatory Ryan Tubridy test; if you're Ryan Tubridy, you're fired

I can get behind this all the same.

so some people ending up in court unable/unwilling to pay this bull**** tax all the while presenters get paid more than the leader of the country, all doing a sub-standard job, all a bunch of hypocrites with Ryan often jumping on his "high" horse live on air concerning drugs pales in significance to Ryan tubridy just being Ryan tubridy?!?

Jesus wept ffs!!!

whoopdedoo

Logical Fallacy wrote: »

Never mind drug tests, give them personality tests and the place would be empty.

hooraah!!!

mikom

daniels.ducks wrote: »

I will not pay my next broadband fee because some people on boards are taking drugs?

Are you forced to pay for broadband even if you do not use it?
Can you use your PC for gaming and word processing without paying for broadband?

Imagine if you HAD to pay for broadband just because your PC has the ability to connect to it.
Now imagine if you paid that broadband fee............. then ended up with sub dial-up speeds.
Also imagine that all the best American sites were only accessible from 1 o'clock in the morning onwards.
That's RTE in PC speak.

amacca

recylingbin wrote: »

Why does anyone care what they do with their money?
They could throw it all into a blender, transfer to a syringe and inject it into their cat for all I give a ****.

Yeah...I'm a dog person too!

RichieC

The King of Moo wrote: »

If we knew that Joe knew about Gerry's coke habit (and any other drug use that might have been going on in RTE) then he was being hypocritical, but we can't be sure he knew what was going on.

I don't think Joe got invited to all of the wildest parties, in fairness to him .

Oh come now, the dogs on the street knew Gerry was a coke fiend..

recylingbin

whoopdedoo wrote: »

so some people ending up in court unable/unwilling to pay this bull**** tax all the while presenters get paid more than the leader of the country, all doing a sub-standard job, all a bunch of hypocrites with Ryan often jumping on his "high" horse live on air concerning drugs pales in significance to Ryan tubridy just being Ryan tubridy?!?

Jesus wept ffs!!!

My argument centres around what they do with their money, not what they get paid.
I don't give a rolling f*ck what they do with their money. And, yes, I do think they are overpaid.

wilson10

Surely we'd all be the poorer if all RTE staff were forced to stop taking drugs.

I mean someone has to be on drugs to write the "Fair City" script.

The stupid games on the Spin the wheel, lottery gameshow, whatever you call it, I mean you'd have to be on something to come up with most of them.

And then some of these reality shows with so called celebrities, well maybe someone needs some drugs to make it interesting.

Sonnenblumen

OurLadyofKnock wrote: »

Considering just how much of the TV licence free went up Gerry Ryan's nose - the fact has to be seriously considered that this tax which is gained by RTE through threats and intimidation of otherwise law abiding citizens is being used by other lavishly reumerated RTE employees too. In fact, I can tell you judging by their behaviour and poor performance it has to be the default culture of the luxurious lifestyles in Donnybrook.

As Joe Duffy sucessfully led a campaign (for no reason) to shut down harmless head shops while his co-parasite and "good friend" at RTE Gerry Ryan was using his nasal passage as tax-payer funded conveyor belt between Columbia and his Brain - it is only fair that as long as the TV Licence is being paid that ALL RTE emplyees must be subjected to random annual drug testing. MANDATORY.

It they are going to "shakedown" poor people to pay for their drugs and champange lifestyles then it is only fair that a 'checks and balances' scenario is implemented to make sure another bloated cokehead like Ryan can't refuse a pay cut to his dealers at Donnybrook.

Did an RTE employee or something blow you off your plinth?

Mike 1972

wilson10 wrote: »

And then some of these reality shows with so called celebrities, well maybe someone needs some drugs to make it interesting.

The viewer ?

Wertz

wilson10 wrote: »

I mean someone has to be on drugs to write the "Fair City" script.

Mogadon isn't illegal though...

FetchTheGin

recylingbin wrote: »

Why does anyone care what they do with their money?

Surely if you are paying an overpriced licence fee for the regular gunk produced for RTE and its overpaid presenters, you should have at least a say on what goes on?

--Kaiser--

After flicking though some of the things RTE have on at present maybe drug-taking should be mandatory at their offices

Stercus Accidit

OurLadyofKnock wrote: »

As Joe Duffy sucessfully led a campaign (for no reason) to shut down harmless head shops while his co-parasite and "good friend" at RTE Gerry Ryan was using his nasal passage as tax-payer funded conveyor belt between Columbia and his Brain

I lolled