Patrick O’Donovan

Politician

Current RTÉ management ‘inherited a bag of you know what’, says minister

Patrick O’Donovan says he has confidence in director general Kevin Bakhurst amid pay controversy

O’Donovan gave women’s museum immediate backing to replace failed Limerick rugby project

Advisory report noted establishment of museum commemorating women was a ‘long-term vision’

Long-delayed Occupied Territories Bill to be brought to Cabinet but will exclude services

Legislation proposes to ban the import and sale of goods produced in illegal Israeli settlements in Palestine

How Irish is Andy Burnham? Arguably more Irish than Joe Biden

Plus: Patrick O’Donovan’s famine-memorial socks, TDs ignored by everyone and a marksman for the birds

It’s hard to work up any outrage about yet another grubby payments controversy at RTÉ

As lesser-known politicians prepare for their daytime TV glow-up at the Oireachtas committee hearing, licence-fee payers have other things to worry about

RTÉ plunged into crisis again – it’s like the world cliff diving championships in Montrose

If crisis were a sea, the national broadcaster would never be out of it

Number of RTÉ workers earning more than €100,000 increased more than a third in past five years

Kevin Bakhurst says broadcaster has ‘paid a price’ for transparency over Derek Mooney’s earnings

Ministers bringing it all back home with EU meetings

A number of Ministers are seeking to host European presidency gatherings in their local constituencies

RTÉ treatment of Seán Rocks pay had ‘significant financial implications’ for family, says TD

Long-time Arena presenter, who died last year, was put on a producer salary with a top-up for on-air role

Laws bringing RTÉ under supervision of State spending watchdog approved by Cabinet

Legislation also beefs up mechanisms for assessing the performance and funding of national broadcaster

RTÉ to be brought under remit of State’s independent spending watchdog

Minister for Media Patrick O’Donovan will seek approval for a new Broadcasting Bill at Cabinet

Under-16s say a social media ban won’t work. The Government needs to listen to them

International experts, children’s rights organisations and children themselves are clear: ban the harmful content, don’t ban the children

Lessons of humanity from famine ‘continue to resonate’, Taoiseach tells commemoration

National Famine Commemoration in Co Galway hosted by Minister for Culture Patrick O’Donovan

AI don’t believe it: What do Gerry Hutch, Michael Healy-Rae and Charlie Haughey have in common?

Plus: U2 ride the bus in Mexico City; Ryanair seeks to fill Europe’s ‘best’ comms manager job; Minister goes from eating humble pie to cake

Derek Mooney pay controversy compounds image of dysfunction and distrust at RTÉ

Wildlife presenter’s sudden inclusion among top 10 earners is the latest blow to the embattled network

Derek Mooney among RTÉ’s 10 highest-paid presenters since 2020

Broadcaster paid almost €100,000 to Claire Byrne and Ray D’Arcy after both left roles in Radio 1 last year

Committee stops short of under-16 social media ban but wants end to ‘harmful’ algorithms

Platforms should have to disable recommender algorithms entirely for children and by default for people over 18, committee says

Media regulator faces 33 appeals over broadcasting levy hike

Increases described as ‘unsustainable’ by sector

Ryder Cup: €499 admission price ‘a matter for organisers’, Minister for Sport says

Opposition criticise daily price as ‘exorbitant’ given State has allocated over €200m in direct and indirect funding

Independent radio call for ministerial intervention after €1m hike in broadcasting levy

Commercial radio representatives describe rise as ‘shocking’

Retired RTÉ staff welcome rejection of broadcaster’s bid to transfer pension scheme costs

Patrick O’Donovan’s decision a ‘good day for occupational pensioners’, says retired-staff association

Aer Lingus travel disruption this summer and how to invest in crypto

Business Today: The best news, analysis and comment from The Irish Times business desk

Patrick O’Donovan is no Viktor Orbán, but he does have role to play in nation’s media

Intervention in fuel protests coverage highlights uneasy relationship between State and news outlets

Patrick O’Donovan’s attack on RTÉ was wrong, but he had a point about the media

It is fair to ask if news media do a good job of capturing and representing a range of public views

Ivana Bacik would not have made Viktor Orbán jibe ‘if I was a woman’, says Patrick O’Donovan

Labour leader had criticised Minister over his comments on media coverage of fuel protest

Patrick O’Donovan admits making ‘hames’ of comments on fuel protests coverage

Minister was accused of ‘sinister’ intervention on coverage of fuel blockades

Michael Healy-Rae looked like a man who had seen a ghost. Something was afoot

While the Government comfortably won the confidence vote, the Kerry TD looked uncomfortable as he prepared for his bombshell

Fairness of basic income for arts scheme under scrutiny as new funding round opens

Artists unsuccessful in previous funding express frustration at nature of scheme and monitoring of recipients’ output

Basic income for arts scheme ‘causing segregation’ and open to abuse, officials told

One artist says housemate is availing of the scheme even though they do ‘not appear to be actively engaged in any creative practice’

Law does not appear to give Minister power to direct review of media coverage of protests

Seeking to direct the holding of such a review would be contrary to spirit of European law, according to academic

Government survives confidence vote after surprise Michael Healy-Rae resignation

Sharp exchanges in Dáil debate as Coalition accused of ‘abandoning the Irish people’ by Mary Lou McDonald amid fuel crisis

The Irish Times view on Patrick O’Donovan: overstepping his mark

Minister must acknowledge his intention to direct Coimisiún na Meán to scrutinise media coverage was wrong

Patrick O’Donovan not seeking media coverage review of fuel protests despite suggestion he would

Tánaiste says no need for ‘any sort of formal review’ into RTÉ’s coverage as party colleague comes in for criticism

O’Donovan’s comments on media coverage of fuel protest ‘sinister and deeply disturbing’, NUJ says

Minister for Media suggests RTÉ report used to encourage protesters to Whitegate refinery

National Museum’s collection at ‘significant risk’ due to inadequacy of storage building

Dublin centre ‘at full capacity’ and lacks ‘environmental and structural standards’

Cancellation of Israeli charity fundraiser ‘an act of anti-Semitic censorship’, Shatter says

National Concert Hall accepted, revoked, reinstated and then cancelled booking by Irish branch of Magen David Adom, former minister says

The three reasons why the Government refuses to meet the fuel protesters

Opposition parties called for engagement with demonstrators but there is distrust of them within Cabinet

New National Concert Hall boss: ‘I hope to be here for the grand reopening’

New chief executive Nigel Flegg hopes the NCH’s long-planned redevelopment will start in 2028 and transform it into a ‘cultural mother ship’

Tensions brewing in Government over slow progress on social media access age limit

Jack Chambers moving forward with original plan to use digital wallet to enable to people store Government documents on their phones

Infrastructure Bill to fast-track big projects could be enacted by summer

Minister for Infrastructure Jack Chambers will tell Cabinet that all public bodies will be required to identify suitable projects

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