RTÉ standing by €500,000 ­tender contract for supply of branding

Irish Independent

17-05-2025

The tender contract issued by the broadcaster is looking for contractors to 'produce and supply branded promotional goods [merchandise and branded material] to promote its brand, services, programmes and events to audiences as part of a framework. The estimated spend is for the potential term of the contract.'
The value of the contract, which mentions paper cups, stationary, T-shirts, notebooks, pencils and ballpoint pens, is up to €500,000.
The broadcaster's finances have been under intense focus since the 2023 payments scandal, and RTÉ is under some pressure to cut costs in exchange for €725m in government supports.
A spokesman for RTÉ defended the planned spend on merchandise, saying: 'This is not a tender for branded pens, pencils and T-shirts.'
He said that RTÉ is inviting submissions from tenders for 'a range' of promotional products 'required to promote its brand, services, programmes and events to audiences'.
'The tender refers to a five-year period and the amount referred to represents an estimate, not a committed spend,' the spokesman said.
The spokesman said that the tender would include branded clothing or display items, including RTÉ branded umbrellas for presenters and branded back drops.
T-shirts, water bottles, stationery and mugs that would ultimately be given to the public at RTÉ events such as the National Ploughing Championships, the BT Young Scientist or the RTÉ Choice Music Prize would also be included.
The contract would also cover 'merchandise at outside broadcasts, particularly for our radio services, and branded clothing to be worn by RTÉ staff'.
'In procuring these items, it is vital that RTÉ delivers the best possible value for money when ordering these items. This framework will consolidate the purchasing of items, previously procured by RTÉ teams locally by way of quotation in line with RTÉ's procurement policy,' the spokesman said.
RTÉ's spending is set to come under further scrutiny, as the broadcaster is one of the first organisations to be brought before the newly formed Oireachtas Media Committee.
Oireachtas committees were finally formed and able to meet after a long delay caused by the protracted speaking rights row.
Alan Kelly, the Labour TD and chairman of the media committee, has already met with RTÉ director general Kevin Bakhurst. Two weeks ago, Mr Kelly and Mr Bakhurst met to discuss a controversy over a partially failed IT system that cost €3.6m.
It emerged this month that RTÉ had written down €3.6m. The IT project, which was bought with some of the proceeds of RTÉ selling off some of its land in Dublin 4, was designed to replace five outdated finance and HR systems.
The money lost on the IT system only emerged in the wake of the Arts Council controversy over its failed IT system.
Media Minister Patrick O'Donovan had sought details from organisations under his remit about whether or not any of them had similar scandals.
The RTÉ IT system then became public knowledge after correspondence between the broadcaster and the department was released under Freedom of Information law to The Currency.
'The latest revelations from RTÉ of a massive writedown on a failed IT system demands serious attention,' Mr Kelly said earlier this month.
In particular, Mr Kelly pointed to his time on the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) during the RTÉ payments saga and questioned why the issue of the HR system was not brought to the committee's attention then.
'At the time of the controversy in 2023, I and others asked at the PAC committee: was there anything else we needed to know. Why wasn't this brought up then?' Mr Kelly asked.
'What about RTÉ's commitments on openness and transparency with the public? There are a number of questions that must be answered.'
At the meeting with the broadcasting chief, Mr Kelly said they also discussed 'future plans for RTÉ, the restructuring programme and a range of legacy issues in the organisation'.