On the latest episode of the Insights with Sean O’Rourke podcast, Mr Bakhurst reflected on the past 15 months in RTÉ, his early career and the controversy involving former Late Late Show host Ryan Tubridy.
In June 2023, RTÉ announced that between 2017 and 2022, it had paid over €300,000 more than had been previously disclosed to the TV and radio presenter.
He said that politicians were “unfair on a few issues” when it came to probing the network over the payments.
“I mean, I don’t really care what they say about me… but there were some colleagues who appeared there, who I think were treated by some individuals a little bit unfairly,” he said.
Mr Bakhurst said RTÉ still has “ongoing business” with agent Noel Kelly of NK Management, who negotiated Tubridy’s undisclosed salary.
“He represents a number of other people on air for us… obviously we deal with him as we should, he has a business to run,” he said.
Mr Bakhurst emphasised the importance of accountability and transparency, and said overall, the Oireachtas Media Committee’s actions drove the necessary change.
“It was a testing time, and, you know, the committee had asked a lot of questions that they were right to ask,” he said.
He said he was “shocked” at TD Brendan Griffin’s statement that he would rather buy a round of drinks than pay the licence fee.
“I just thought the licence fee is the law actually and you’re a representative of the country,” he said.
He said that between 600 and 700 members of staff have been recategorised as employees with RTÉ having over €20 million in its arsenal to deal with PRSI back payments to those members of staff.
“I’m not sure it’s going to be as high as that,” he said.
He added that the payment of the €160 licence fee is up from last year with projections of a 30pc shortfall this year not coming to pass.
“I think part of it is demonstrating to the audiences that we are getting our act in order. We’ve had a really good summer in terms of coverage of the Olympics, the Euros and some really high profile, important investigations and a range of content,” he said.
Mr Bakhurst said the broadcaster plans to invest in a new centre in Cork and outsource more radio production to the independent sector as part of an overall restructuring plan.
Separately, he spoke candidly about his “fantastic career” with the BBC and his interest in “historical events”, with notable moments including the handover of Hong Kong in 1997 and the 9/11 tragedy in New York, he said.
