Marian Finucane really on 500k + per year!?

MardiB · 25-09-2011 04:38PM

Deus Ex Machina wrote: »

Just what the hell does somebody like her do all day if she does two shows a week and earns that kind of bread? Actually, I don't even want to know.

But along those lines, I'd much rather take her wages, give them to some smack head and then make him do two shows a week about what he gets up to. There's your bang for your entertainment buck!

I agree that the salaries paid by rte are outrageous right acrosss the board, and as for the drivel they show celebrity bannisteoir etc don't get me started but to answer you question http://www.friendsinireland.ie/friendsinireland/Main/Home.htm

Killer Pigeon · 25-09-2011 05:17PM

Annihilate the license fee!
Completely privatise RTÉ!

oppenheimer1 · 25-09-2011 05:38PM

Seanchai wrote: »

I said @ €35,000. Teachers start on €27,814 basic plus @ €2000-€3000 on top for various qualifications, according to the ASTI Salary section. Given that all qualified teachers leaving college will start at this level, that's a lot of new teachers who could be financed with the money a single RTÉ presenter is being paid.

Either way, you have completely missed the point: Finucane and her colleagues do not give Irish society back as much as a single good teacher or nurse, and accordingly to do not deserve to be paid a salary 15-20 times more for what amounts to waffling - a position plenty of talented, enthusiastic, attention-seeking egomaniacs would love to do for one-tenth of Finucane's salary.

Thats questionable. So called front line public servants are overpaid too and to suggest replacing one overpaid RTE presenter with a couple of teachers is not economic. RTE provides a service in keeping the nation informed on the issues of the day in a fairer way then most of the press, which is a very valuable. I've said this before, government has to have more priorities than health. Sure couldn't we close all the parks and amenities around the country and use the money saved for more nurses?

someyoke · 25-09-2011 05:42PM

washman3 wrote: »

we will all whinge and moan about it just as we do about everything else in this country, but at the end of the day what will we do about it?? sweet feck all.
These people are "insiders" in just another branch of our rotton to the core establishment. Marian Finucane is in general a pain in the a**e. Joe Duffy a cute conman. Will any of these people give any politican a hard time?
why should they? the taxpayer pays their wages.
And George Hamilton on 300k, no wonder he left Ulster television to come here. Most genuine sports minded people would do that job for a pittance.:mad:

I know I'm not the only one that turns over to english tv for commentary because he's far from the best in the business. didn't realise he's on these wages, simply ridiculous.

Fluorescence · 25-09-2011 05:51PM

I like Marian Finucane's show

However, it is a silly salary to be paying the top RTÉ presenters. It's simply not a justifiable amount, though there effectively isn't a whole lot we can do to change it. The top presenters in most countries would take home a huge salary. Par for the course really.

Sonnenblumen · 25-09-2011 06:26PM

Wertz wrote: »

I've heard this exact argument from the mouth of one Mr Pat Kenny in the past regarding high wages.

The big difference is that EPL footballers are paid from private companies who have en interest in finding and keeping the most skillful players in order to succeed in winning the various titles and the money associated with them and maintaining a high following among the fan base who buy tickets, merchandise and pay stupid money to the like of SKY for their live match coverage.
If clubs don't pay those wages some other club will and income may fall... they effectively sell football and need the most talented individuals to help them maximise profits.

Now to get back on topic, Ms Finnucane is a hypocrite because she will quite gladly sit in her studio if a weekend morning hosting a glorified coffee morning for the great and good of political and cultural Irish life and point fingers at civil service and semi state levels of renumeration whilst she herself takes over half a million p/a from a semi state (in all but name) company...
But ike I say in all these threads, it's not her's or anyone else getting those wages' faults; if you offered me that money for that amount of work I'd take your hand offf as would anyone else...it's the clowns with their hands on the pursestrings out in Donnybrook that need to be collectively shaken by the necks for passing out such lucrative contracts.
No-one is going to poach these people...the other indie broadcasters couldn't or wouldn't pay them these rates, even in the good old days.
But someone said we should do something about it...trouble is we can't...we could choose to not pay the licence and face court time and fines/jail or we could wave a few placards outside the gates...but this can only be tackled by political will and action from the current minister and that measn it won't be because they're all in each other's back pockets (figuratively speaking)...

I would expect that most would know that there are significant categories of semi-states. RTE belongs to the category of commercial (ie revenue generating) , I suppose like ESB, Bord Gais and a host of other etc. What makes me laugh, is the ignorant criticism of individuals and referring to them or their masters as clowns. Well if they are as you suggest clowns, why aren't you or the many moaners like you not working there? Yes I get it, you don't have the interest to do a clown's job?

If you want to get at the truth do a bit more homework.

BTW, far from it, I'm no big fan of RTE. If it is to be privatised we can expect more of the same crappy stations which already populate the airwaves.

Freddie59 · 25-09-2011 06:41PM

darkman2 wrote: »

Read somewhere that MF, who presents 2 shows a week at the weekend on RTE radio 1 (yes, 2 shows per week) is on this sort of money. What the hell? Scandalous if true and it should piss people off big time. How many hours does this woman do for her (2 hour?) shows at the weekend? It may be just me but whenever I tune into RTE on the weekend there always seems to be someone standing in for her on yet another holiday for herself. It's blood boiling stuff, it really is. Time for someone to say stop to this - and with Tubridy and the rest of them. I really don't think given what us mortals are going through Irish people will tolerate much more of this carry on.

What do you think? Can someone please come on and tell us how the likes of Joe Duffy - on similar obscene wages - are deserving of high appreciation of their talents? Joe Duffy likes to have a laugh on Friday on his show. Not alot of people in this country find it too humorous at the present time. But i'd say he is having a good time alright. He won't be worrying about little things like a mortgage. Someone should tell that to some of the goons on his show who ring in and say "ah sure,your one of us Joe".....as if he is living among his flock in Ballyfermot. He is in his fcuk.

The epitome of all that is wrong in this country. A radio presenter can earn more than the Taoiseach, who in turn earns more than the president of the USA. Throw in a bunch of civil servants, "professionals" and public sector scams and you arrive at - hey presto - an €18bn deficit.No wonder the place is fcuked.

joseph brand · 25-09-2011 06:45PM

Sonnenblumen wrote: »

I would expect that most would know that there are significant categories of semi-states. RTE belongs to the category of commercial (ie revenue generating) , I suppose like ESB, Bord Gais and a host of other etc. What makes me laugh, is the ignorant criticism of individuals and referring to them or their masters as clowns. Well if they are as you suggest clowns, why aren't you or the many moaners like you not working there? Yes I get it, you don't have the interest to do a clown's job?

If you want to get at the truth do a bit more homework.

BTW, far from it, I'm no big fan of RTE. If it is to be privatised we can expect more of the same crappy stations which already populate the airwaves.

I believe, as many others do, that a lot of those in RTE are there through nepotism and favours. It's who you know, not what you know.

I for one can't stomach Derek "Ooooooooohh" Mooney. Or Ryan 'The Stick Insect' Tubridy. The only time I watch RTE 1 is when the news is on.
One good thing about RTE is that their programming is fresh. I mean, Knots Landing is on from 03:15 to 04:55 tonight.:rolleyes:
Celebrity Bainisteoir is on atm. Not that I would watch THAT. Awful awful awful.
And then there's the Angelus.

Wertz · 25-09-2011 06:59PM

Sonnenblumen wrote: »

What makes me laugh, is the ignorant criticism of individuals and referring to them or their masters as clowns. Well if they are as you suggest clowns, why aren't you or the many moaners like you not working there? Yes I get it, you don't have the interest to do a clown's job?

If you want to get at the truth do a bit more homework.

I don't have the interest...no, more like I don't have the personal contacts or the relations to get into the kind of position that these people get in to...I'm just one of the plebs and couldn't negotiate my way out of a plastic bag, but that doesn't mean I don't know good value for money when I see it...the type of people who award Finucane et al with their salaries are themselves cosseted and overpaid and know neither the value of the money they blow on these middle of the road presenters nor how hard it is to actaully come by that money in the first place. So I feel the term "clowns" is pertinent here...if not in the true sense of the word, since they don't realy do comedy out in Montrose either. The joke is on the licence payer.

corglass · 25-09-2011 07:28PM

has anyone here go any genuine ideas on how to highlight this?

Seriously, RTE will never cover this topic in a news bullitin unless there's a huge protest or something. . . .

Any ideas folks?

joseph brand · 25-09-2011 07:42PM

Wertz wrote: »

I don't have the interest...no, more like I don't have the personal contacts or the relations to get into the kind of position that these people get in to...I'm just one of the plebs and couldn't negotiate my way out of a plastic bag, but that doesn't mean I don't know good value for money when I see it...the type of people who award Finucane et al with their salaries are themselves cosseted and overpaid and know neither the value of the money they blow on these middle of the road presenters nor how hard it is to actaully come by that money in the first place. So I feel the term "clowns" is pertinent here...if not in the true sense of the word, since they don't realy do comedy out in Montrose either. The joke is on the licence payer.

I can understand Arthur Mathews and Graham Linehan 'not' approaching RTE with the idea for Father Ted. Not the most progressive station. It was definitely suited to Channel 4 or BBC 2. Perhaps they knew of all the inbreeding out in Montrose. :P

Seanchai · 25-09-2011 08:13PM

What's the current situation with the salaries of RTÉ presenters? Well, I wanted an answer so off I went to Google.

Before Fine Gael got into government:

1. "Fine Gael has pledged to cap the salaries of all RTÉ management and presenters to a maximum of €200,000 as outlined in its Reinventing Government strategy document published last weekend. It recommends that all salaries in the semi-State sector should be capped at that level." (The Irish Times, 10 November 2010)

After Fine Gael got into government:

"THE SALARIES of RTÉ’s top presenters are to be cut by more than 30 per cent from their peak in 2008, the organisation’s director general Noel Curran has said." (The Irish Times, 10 June 2011)

Finucane earned was paid €570,000 in 2008. Minus 30% (€171,000) means Finucane should be earning €399,000 now. So, Finucane will be paid almost precisely twice the amount of money as Fine Gael said, before it got into power,would be the maximum paid to an RTÉ presenter, i.e. €200,000. And presumably that 2010 €200,000 salary cap would apply to Kenny, the highest paid RTÉ presenter, and Finucane would have had a salary of @ €150,000 rather than the €400,000 which she has been given.

Of course we are not told if these cuts have been implemented straight away, something which is unlikely. We are given no timeline for their implementation. What is RTÉ hiding? We are, however, told by the RTÉ Director General, Noel Curran, that RTÉ presenters will not have to endure any further pay cuts. So it looks like Marian Finucane will still be getting at least €400,000 per annum for her 4 hours per week radio show which she presents for a paltry 8-9 months per year. €400,000! :mad:

Well done to Fine Gael for yet another broken election promise. Spineless, spineless politicians trying to keep their "friends" in the media happy for fear of bad press. There could be a book written already about all these broken promises.

the purple tin · 25-09-2011 08:14PM

Does anyone know when Finnucane first started broadcasting on RTE radio and how much was she being payed then?
Or any of the RTE heavy hitters for that matter?
Did their wages start off really big and increase bit by bit steadily or was it smaller wages to start with and huge raises every few years?

Seanchai · 25-09-2011 08:19PM

Freddie59 wrote: »

The epitome of all that is wrong in this country. A radio presenter can earn more than the Taoiseach, who in turn earns more than the president of the USA. Throw in a bunch of civil servants, "professionals" and public sector scams and you arrive at - hey presto - an €18bn deficit.No wonder the place is fcuked.

Good post. An update on the civil servants is that there was a small story in yesterday's Irish Times saying that there are a further four civil servants who will be entitled to a €700,000 retirement package like Dermot McCarthy's package because the revised pension and retirement packages for senior civil servants have not yet been implemented by - you guessed it - senior civil servants. If you don't laugh you'd cry.

Civil Service chiefs still entitled to payoff deal

Zen65 · 25-09-2011 08:19PM

Freddie59 wrote: »

The epitome of all that is wrong in this country. A radio presenter can earn more than the Taoiseach, who in turn earns more than the president of the USA. Throw in a bunch of civil servants, "professionals" and public sector scams and you arrive at - hey presto - an €18bn deficit.No wonder the place is fcuked.

There's any number of Hollywood actors who earn more for a single film than the US President earns all year. The problem is not Irish in origin, nor is it a "public servant" issue; it's a product of media industry whereby if you can attract a large TV or radio audience your worth is measured not by how well you do the job but by the potential value of the advertising revenue that can piggy-back on your name. Only the big name celebrities will catch our attention nowadays and interrupt our busy schedules as we tirelessly work to earn the money to pay the prices now necessary for our essential needs and luxuries. Those prices are driven up by so many factors including the greed for exorbitant profit, the cost of advertising (which is driven up by the need to pay massive fees to the celebrities who advertise the products, etc).

We have become a tabloid society and we are treated to that low level of disdain which such societies have come to accept. Serious issues of politics are discussed in sound-bite media-friendly sentences, with the truth being twisted and distorted to evoke the public ire and get people texting into radio stations & TV stations - great revenue for the sponsors.

Maybe I'm becoming too cynical for this world?

Z

tayto lover · 25-09-2011 08:21PM

MF spends most of her show coughing and spluttering and is a very poor presenter. Its time to get rid of these old fogies.

Zen65 · 25-09-2011 08:27PM

tayto lover wrote: »

Its time to get rid of these old fogies.

Let's not be ageist here!

We might just agree that RTE should eliminate their high-cost presenters who no longer have the same pulling power they once had.

(Because they're old)

Z

Seanchai · 25-09-2011 08:32PM

oppenheimer1 wrote: »

Thats questionable. So called front line public servants are overpaid too

The figures I gave you for a newly qualified teacher's salary are not questionable. They are fact. You were provided with the link to see yourself. What do you have to counter the figure I gave?

oppenheimer1 wrote: »

RTE provides a service in keeping the nation informed on the issues of the day in a fairer way then most of the press, which is a very valuable.

I, for one, am not saying otherwise. But most people agree that the service in question can be provided for much cheaper than the current set of RTÉ presenters are doing it. None of them have any unique talent in broadcasting terms. Even Pat Kenny, who despite all the crap he gets is head and shoulders above all others when it comes to being informed about political and economic issues, is not worth more than €150,000. The bad value we are getting from paying these salaries, not the principle of public service broadcasting, is the important point which you seem to be overlooking here.

Seanchai · 25-09-2011 08:46PM

Killer Pigeon wrote: »

Completely privatise RTÉ!

The most ridiculous idea ever when it comes to RTÉ. The idea of an O'Reilly, O'Brien or Murdoch being in charge of RTÉ is one no democrat could tolerate given their proven interference in the democratic systems of their respective countries.

RTÉ overall does a very good job and has some of the best, most informative and stimulating programmes on Irish radio. Whether it's Sounds Traditional in the evening, John Kelly on Lyric FM, Morning Ireland, Philip King on South Wind Blows, the increasingly superb Documentary on One and numerous other shows RTÉ uniquely enriches radio and Irish culture.

All of these shows, however, can be (and many are) done to the same standard by people earning well under €100,000 per year. Given this, the obscene salaries of current RTÉ "stars" like Finucane are wholly unwarranted.

Sonnenblumen · 25-09-2011 09:29PM

It's probably time we had a public enquiry to determine what if any the State's role in RTE? Perhaps a trade sale, re-develop the lands at Montrose and relocate a mini public broadcasting unit to some hut near the GPO.

Just sit back and wait for all the disenfranchised moan about having no more free to air GAA, FAI, IRFU, Gaelgoory delights etc.

That will be some show not to miss.

NIMAN · 25-09-2011 09:41PM

Re: Joe Duffy and his wages,

A few quick calculations for his on-air, actual presenting time (and yes I know that he probably does off-air time etc).

Time on air each day: 75mins.
Time on air each week: 375mins.

Time on air each yr: 375 x 52 = 19500 (and that's not allowing for his holidays).

Yearly salary, approx €400,000 / 19500 = €20.50 per min. Per minute folks !!

Absurdum · 25-09-2011 09:51PM

I think RTE are justified in paying Marian that kind of money, if they don't then TV3 might snap her up for a series of
IRELAND UNCOVERED: UNDERCOVER IN A RUSSIAN BROTHEL

and then where would we be?

Crazy Horse 6 · 25-09-2011 10:05PM

Finucane and Duffy are establisment goons. Don't underestimate the power of brainwashing towards the sheeple.

Sonnenblumen · 25-09-2011 10:07PM

NIMAN wrote: »

Re: Joe Duffy and his wages,

A few quick calculations for his on-air, actual presenting time (and yes I know that he probably does off-air time etc).

Time on air each day: 75mins.
Time on air each week: 375mins.

Time on air each yr: 375 x 52 = 19500 (and that's not allowing for his holidays).

Yearly salary, approx €400,000 / 19500 = €20.50 per min. Per minute folks !!

you forgot to compute when Joe's in the loo, thinking how to give you more excitement value ?:p

Fighting Irish · 25-09-2011 10:09PM

200motels wrote: »

They are paid way too much and so are teachers who only work half the year while we the worker and that's if you have a job get 4 weeks holidays a year for crap wages. Most of the public service don't know how lucky they are but then again they don't live in the real world.

:rolleyes:

I'm not a teacher

aphex™ · 25-09-2011 10:14PM

She still has the same gombeen sh1ts on every week even though we've huge numbers of new blood in the Oireachtas thanks to the last election.

Time to update the address book ya 'oul bat

edgecutter · 25-09-2011 10:16PM

These wages are disgusting to hear. I a way I'm glad I don't have a TV license:D

gigino · 25-09-2011 10:20PM

200motels wrote: »

They are paid way too much and so are teachers who only work half the year while we the worker and that's if you have a job get 4 weeks holidays a year for crap wages. Most of the public service don't know how lucky they are but then again they don't live in the real world.

+1. Its the ordinary person, the taxpayer, the net contributers to the government /state, who are giving the state + semi-state employees considerably better pay and pensions than they themselves get.

Son Of A Vidic · 25-09-2011 10:21PM

Seanchai wrote: »

Not one of them is worth more than €100,000. If we're paying, for example, nurses and teachers @ €35,000 each then nobody can tell me that one of these RTÉ presenters is worth 3 nurses or teachers, never mind the 12-20 nurses/teachers that their current salaries could employ. Madness.

Well said and what value/benefit does this talentless, unskilled, overrated gobshyte bring to society? Nothing of course, yet those professions that exist to serve society are cut to the bone.

gigino · 25-09-2011 10:22PM

tayto lover wrote: »

MF spends most of her show coughing and spluttering and is a very poor presenter.

smokers cough. and we are paying for it.

thank god for other stations to listen to. :mad:

Marian Finucane really on 500k + per year!?

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