Niall Collins (Limerick West, Fianna Fail)
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Question 274: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the number of persons, either employees or contractors, in a company (details supplied) who received payments in excess of €250,000 in the years 2009 and to date in 2010; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47113/10]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin South, Green Party)
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RTÉ is an independent national public service broadcaster whose remit and obligations are set out in the Broadcasting Act 2009.

Section 114 (1) of the Broadcasting Act, 2009 states the principal objects and associated powers of RTÉ and Section 98 provides that it shall be independent of the pursuance of these objects, subject to the requirements of the Act. As such I, as Minister, have no function in RTÉ's day to day matters such as general staffing levels and salaries.

I do, however, have a role in the appointment of the Director General of RTÉ. Section 89(3) of the Broadcasting Act, 2009 provides that the consent of Government is required before RTÉ appoints or removes the director general or alters his or her remuneration or his or her terms and conditions.

I can confirm that the remuneration of the Director General of RTÉ was set at €260,726 on 1 June 2009 after a salary reduction of 12.5% was applied to this remuneration. The current salary of the Director General remains at this level.