Under a freedom of information (FOI) request, it has been revealed that RTÉ spent €1.07 million on legal fees in 2018. 

According to the Irish Independent, these fees included fees to barristers, law firms, speech transcribers, technical experts and associated administrative costs, such as room hire.

The FOI documents state: “Like all large organisations, RTÉ engages a wide range of legal experts relating to various elements of its operations. 

BAI review

“The legal costs paid for in 2018 included fees paid to barristers providing legal advice to RTÉ, payments for expert advice from several different law firms regarding various legal issues, and administration fees such as room hire, stenographers, technical experts, etc."

The Broadcasting Authority of Ireland (BAI) is shortly due to review RTÉ for the year 2018, as part of its remit under section 124 of the Broadcasting Act 2009. This review will include an examination of expenditure by the public service broadcaster, which assists it in measuring performance “and in deciding the BAI’s recommendations to the minister in respect of the adequacy of public funding for the broadcaster”, a spokesperson for BAI said.