Newsletter 29th January 2017
Superann Newsletter 29th January 2017
If you would like the Newsletter sent to your personal email address or if you have changed your email address, or know a colleague who would like to get the Newsletters, please send their email address to me Charles Byrne at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Reminder to colleagues and those recently retired ...to be aware that the "RTÉ Alumni" meet every first Tuesday of the month from 13.00 Hrs in the Tara Tower Hotel.. Very informal gathering of colleagues having a snack and a chat....give it a try, you will be very welcome....CB
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Death of Philomena Healy mother of colleague Phil Healy ( Hon. Sec. Benevolent Society)
Our deepest sympathy to colleague Phil Healy and the Healy and O'Brien families on the death of her mother Philomena.
The following notice appears:
HEALY nee O’Brien (Cliff Road, Tramore, Co. Waterford) - January 29th, 2017, (peacefully) at University Hospital Waterford; Philomena (Phil), beloved wife of the late Tom, loving and much loved mother of Phil, Ted, Anne and Teresa; Sadly missed by her loving family, grandchildren Gillian, Tim and Katie (Halley), Edwina and Tom (Healy), Lauren and Michael (Cardiff) and Brian (Tuohy); great-grandchildren, nieces, nephews, relatives and friends.
R.I.P.
Reposing at her residence on Monday 30th January 2017 from 4o’c until 7o’c with prayers at 6.30o’c. Removal from her residence on Tuesday 31st January 2017 to the Holy Cross Church, Tramore, for Requiem Mass on arrival at 10o’c. Burial afterwards in the adjoining cemetery.
Date Published: Sunday 29th January 2017Date of Death: Sunday 29th January 2017
( Many thanks to colleague Niamh White for alerting me to this sad news..) CB
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RTÉ Alumni February 2017
RTÉ Alumni... " First Tuesday" 7th February 2017 ( Tuesday Week)
at the Tara Towers Hotel from 13.00Hrs..
Reminder to colleagues and those recently retired ...to be aware that the RTÉ Alumni meet every first Tuesday of the month from 13.00 Hrs in the Tara Tower Hotel.. Very informal gathering of colleagues having a snack and a chat....give it a try....next meeting not until Tuesday 7th February 2017 - you will be very welcome....CB
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Update Message from Dee Forbes - RTÉ Director General
Dear all,
As you know, RTÉ has been giving serious consideration to the best options for the re-development of the Donnybrook campus for some time. When I outlined the financial pressures facing the organisation before Christmas, I also mentioned that I would update you on developments regarding the possible sale of land on the site when I was in a position to do so.
Following today’s Board meeting I can now inform you that RTÉ has taken the decision to sell a portion of underutilised land on our Donnybrook site, west of the Radio Centre. While the exact timings around the sales process and final details of the land to be sold are still being finalised and are commercially sensitive as you can appreciate, I am now pleased to confirm to you our intention to sell in the first half of 2017. Savills have been appointed to manage the sale, following a public procurement process.
Given the commercial sensitivities around the sales process I cannot at this stage give further details, but will of course do so in much more detail in due course.
As I made clear in meetings with you before Christmas, RTÉ’s financial position has been challenging for some time, with the result that we have had to curtail any significant investment in infrastructure, technology and other organisational changes. This is no longer sustainable. A series of independent reports have also indicated that the sale of underutilised land on our Donnybrook site represents a valuable source of much-needed funding for investment.
While the sale of this underutilised land will not solve all our financial challenges, it will provide us with means to reshape and reinvest in the organisation and, together with the 5-year strategy that is in development, will enable us to continue to meet the changing needs of audiences.
Over the coming weeks you will become aware of a range a processes and discussions to enable the sale. We are currently in discussions with the RTÉ Sports & Social Club about its involvement in a new facility at the Nutley end of the campus, a development we shared with you last October. Two information sessions for members will take place next week.
We have already successfully applied for planning permission to relocate the Wee Care childcare facility on-site to Montrose House and to develop a new site entrance from the Stillorgan Road (R138). In the longer term, this new access junction will become the main vehicular and pedestrian point of access to the RTÉ campus, replacing the existing entrance on Nutley Lane which will alleviate congestion at the Nutley Lane/Stillorgan Road junction and enhance traffic safety. In the next few weeks we will also lodge a planning application to move the Fair City lot to a new location onsite.
As I said, once we are in a position to share more details with you we will do so. We will also arrange for more detailed briefings which will provide you with an opportunity to ask questions and better understand this important decision for the future of RTÉ.
Thank you
Dee
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Joint Statement – RTÉ and RTÉ Sports & Social Club
Published: December 19, 2016
As already notified to members RTÉ served 6 months notice on the Club on 25 September 2016 seeking vacant possession of the Club’s premises to facilitate a land disposal by RTÉ in 2017. The Club took legal advice and formally responded to RTÉ setting out its understanding of its legal rights.
RTÉ and the Club are now engaged in a mediation process in which we are seeking to resolve the issue. In the process we are looking at where and how the Club can be relocated within the overall Donnybrook site. At the end of the process, if members agree to such a relocation of the Club, RTÉ will ensure continuity of access to facilities for members when the club moves from the current location to the new one.
Information meetings will be held for members towards the end of January, during which, RTÉ’s proposals will be explained in detail. Proposal details will be circulated in advance of the meetings.
In accordance with the Club’s Constitution the members will decide whether or not to accept the proposal at a meeting duly convened under the Constitution.
Details of the meeting dates and times are below & will be posted on the Notice Board in mid January.
RTE Sports and Social Club - Meetings 1st & 5th February 2017
Letter sent to Members...
Dear Member,
Following on from the December 2016 joint statement (posted to the RTÉSports and Social Club notice board, the RTÉ Sports and Social Club website and theRTÉ intranet site), the Committee would like to update members on progress to date.
The RTE Sports and Social Club and RTÉ are still engaged in a mediation process.
Both parties are working towards the hosting of information meetings for all members of the Club in the RTÉSports and Social Club on:
· 1 February 2017 at 19:00 (Wednesday)
· 5 February 2017 at 16:00 (Sunday)
At the meeting, RTÉ will present their proposal to members. Following the RTÉ presentation the Committee will have a closed meeting for feedback and discussion with members.
At a later date the members willvote on the proposal at ameeting duly convened under the Club Constitution.
As per the Club Constitution, the formalcommunication of information is through the notice board in the RTÉ Sports and Social Club.It is important that Club members keep themselves informed aboutevents by referencing notices whichwill appearon this notice board.
However, as a matter of courtesy, the Committee will also communicate appropriate information to the members via the RTÉ Sports and Social Club website, RTÉ Hub (RTÉ intranet site), Superannuation communiqués, email addresses (where provided).
The Club has developed a mobile application for Apple or Android phones to assist with member communications. We urge you to download the mobile application and we have attached details and instructions to assist with this software on the Club website (http://www.rteclub.eu).
The Committee urges you to attend these hugely important information meetings in order to ensure that you are fully informed.
Best Wishes,
RTÉ Sports And Social Club Committee.
Details of the meeting dates and times 1 February 2017 at 19:00 (Wednesday) · 5 February 2017 at 16:00 (Sunday)
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RTÉ Credit Union AGM Draw Winners...
1st prize €1,000
Barbara Mooney
2nd prize €1,000
Niall Downes
3rd prize €500
John Kinsella
4th prize €500
Marian McCluskey
5th prize €500
Aisling Breathnach
6th prize €500
AN Other
7th prize €500
Gerard Roche
8th prize €500
Paul Naughton
Join the cash draw today!
To be in with a chance to win you must be a member of the RTÉ Credit Union and part of the cash draw for as little as €3 a fortnight.
Many thanks to Karen Tiernan RTÉCU for sending the results... CB
rtecu.ie
ext 2628
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Health Insurance Renewals - Information Reminder...
Please note the following in relation to VHI that may be of interest to some of our pensioner colleagues.. " Interested colleagues should note that a representative from VHI will be in the canteen on the following dates and times
Tuesday 31st January from 10.00 to 14.00 hours
Wednesday 1st February from 10.00 to 14.00 hours
The representatives will answer any questions you have in relation to renewals or any other health insurance queries.
Many thanks to Michael O'Brien ( Senior RTÉ HR Manager ) for the above information.. CB
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Health Insurance Renewal - Dermot Good and Charlie Weston Interview with Sean O'Rourke..
I have had many colleagues enquiring for the latest information on renewal of Health Insurance ... Here is a link to the most recent interview by colleague Sean O'Rourke with Dermot Good, TotalHealthCareCover.ie and Charlie Weston, Irish Independent Personal Finance Editor regarding renewal of your Health Insurance..transmitted on "Today with Sean O'Rourke " on Tuesday 3rd January 2017...
You can also look at Dermot Good's website at the following link..
http://www.totalhealthcover.ie/alternative_health_care_products
You can also compare different plans and providers at
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Tribute to deceased colleague Gerry Fitzgerald - RTÉ Radio Sound Supervisor
(From colleague Radio Music Producer - Gareth Hudson...)
I have many happy memories of working with Gerry Fitzgerald in my role as the RTE Concert Orchestra's Music Producer in the 1980's.
In those days it was possible to be appointed as Music Producer for one's programme ideas rather than for any technical knowledge of recording. I knew what I wanted to hear but didn't know how to get it!
Gerry was a a great teacher and we developed a close working relationship.
The orchestra was quickly developing a busier public concert schedule - not least because of the opening of the National Concert Hall - and this added pressure to the sound supervisors as they dealt with ever more complex light entertainment productions. It seemed to me that it would be a good idea for Gerry to be always assigned to these as he was always so positive and helpful concerning the orchestra's productions. The Head of Radio Sound quickly explained that (for good reason) this would not be possible. Nevertheless, Gerry worked on about 75% of the orchestra's output and battled the infamous desk in the National Concert Hall's control room.
I would meet Gerry for a coffee a few days before a big show at the NCH and brief him as to what was involved - we would turn up at the hall only to find sticking plaster placed over several of the channels on the desk with DO NOT USE clearly in view. Of course, to our Symphony Orchestra colleagues this was fairly immaterial as the tended to use only six channels total - but for us this was disaster! Gerry took to bringing in a small portable mixer to add to our possibilities.
The pressure further increased as our Radio bosses expected more of these productions to be live - and then TV started to show an interest in these shows with ever more coordination involved. Gerry dealt with all these challenges with an infectious enthusiasm.
There was however, one production which nearly saw our joint demise.
In those days we used to have an annual co-production with BBC Radio 2 of "Friday Night is Music Night" - one year I would go to London with our fantastic Principal Conductor Proinnsias O'Duinn and some Irish artists to work with the BBC Concert Orchestra; the next year a BBC conductor would come to Dublin with some UK artists to work with the RTECO. Both RTE and the BBC usually took these shows live.
Gerry and myself were working on such a co-production at the National Concert Hall and all was going so well. We just had ten minutes to run and there was that comfortable feeling that we were nearly there - the timings had proved accurate and we could look forward to a thirty second fade on applause after the last item and straight into the pips for the 10pm news.
Just then, water - or what we thought was water - started dripping from an overhead ventilation grill straight onto the desk. Quick as a flash, Gerry picked up a waste paper bin and strategically placed it on some of the channels. I'm please to say we managed to complete the broadcast without further incident.
It was half an hour after the broadcast that we learnt the truth!
Back in those days a broadcast involving the BBC often had a Garda Special Branch presence - one officer was stationed immediately outside the control room. Unfortunately this poor chap was taken short towards the end of the show and not wishing to leave the immediate area dashed upstairs to see if there was a toilet. On realising there was none he relieved himself into a ventilation shaft in the side of a wall thinking he'd get away with it. Little did he know the geography of the Hall's ventilation system!
A member of the BBC hierarchy came into the control room just after the broadcast to thank us and I can still see his face as he saw the waste paper bin on the faders!
Gerry mixed professionalism with great humour, spirit and humanity - may he rest in peace. Gareth Hudson
Many thanks Gareth for those wonderful memories of a great Audio legend.. CB
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Cumann Rioga Teilifis
Royal Television Society
Republic of Ireland Centre
You are invited to
RTS STUDENT TELEVISION
AWARDS 2017
REPUBLIC OF IRELAND CENTRE
The nominees in each category :
UG Animation,
UG Comedy & Entertainment
UG Factual
UG Short Features
UG Drama
will be announced.
An RTS Award Trophy and Certificates will be presented
to the nominated students and Institutes of each category
by Dee Forbes - RTÉ Director General.
On
Wednesday 15th February 2017
at 8 p.m.
Studio 1 Television Centre
( Access by Satellite Room/Main reception )
A number of invitations are still available
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
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RTÉ Announce - GAA Rights for next 5 years...
RTÉ today announced that it has secured key GAA rights for the next five years. The new agreement between RTÉ and the GAA includes the rights to 31 live GAA Championship games per season on RTÉ One and RTÉ2, and RTÉ Player, and the exclusive national radio rights package for both the GAA Championships
and Allianz League on RTÉ Radio 1. RTÉ has also secured exclusive national Irish language radio rights on RTÉ Raidió na Gaeltachta.
RTÉ Director-General, Dee Forbes, said: “I’m delighted that RTÉ has renewed and strengthened its longstanding and successful partnership with the GAA until 2022. As the national public service media organisation, RTÉ is proud to remain central in sharing the unique cultural and sporting experience of our national games with the Irish public. Gaelic Games are at the heart of Ireland’s culture and identity and I look forward to continuing to strengthen and evolve RTÉ’s partnership with the GAA into the future as we embrace developments in technology and emerging audience trends. RTÉ is committed to delivering quality Gaelic Games coverage across all platforms to serve the widest possible audience”.
- TV & Online – RTÉ has retained the rights to 31 live GAA Championship games from 2017- 2022 for RTÉ One and RTÉ2, and RTÉ Player, in addition to highlights on The Sunday Game and Allianz League Sunday.
- Radio – RTÉ Radio 1 and RTÉ Raidió na Gaeltachta have secured exclusive national radio rights for the next five years, to include GAA Championship 2017-2021 and GAA Allianz Leagues 2018-2022.
Ryle Nugent, Group Head of RTÉ Sport, said: “In an increasingly competitive sports rights market, retaining GAA rights has been central to RTÉ Sport’s mission to secure rights to coverage of our national games, national teams, and major events. This new agreement means that RTÉ Sport will continue to deliver 31 live GAA Championship games on television and on RTÉ Player, and that RTÉ Radio 1 will become the exclusive national radio partner over the next five years, strengthening its long-standing history and association with our national games. In addition, RTÉ will continue to broadcast Sunday night highlights on The Sunday Game and Allianz League Sunday”.
Colleague Dan Reardon
Colleague Dan Reardon who worked in the RTÉ Radio Drama Department for many years, sends us "Manifesto" and "In the National Gallery". It was published by the Irish Times, and Dan hopes to publish another volume of poems later this year...Wishing you well Dan..CB
MANIFESTO
It has become imperative to laugh:
Now that the decades are numbered seven
And sleep snatches up in armchair or couch,
Bed is a black and scratchy, fretful bin.
When fat tears spill at trifling sentiment
And knee joints yelp down steps to genuflect.
Rainy mornings, no man’s lands of torment,
Cold, a sadistic courier of sick.
Essential then to seize on sunny days,
Seek out sharp comedians, crazy clowns,
The big-eyed amaze on a baby’s face,
An indignant panjandrum upside down
And laugh, an unfettered howling guffaw,
Feel the sun so close, kiss the shining star.
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IN THE NATIONAL GALLERY
Acknowledge it: you are in the Twilight
Of your career. Face it, embrace it – Late.
Not Early nor Middle, no more, but Late.
A blessing then you can still be at it,
That you work with words and sounds, making shapes,
Giving glimpses of paradisaic
Possibilities or uncovering
Depravities or simply brightening
Up the shadows of this tearful valley,
Donating to the Nation’s Gaiety.
And when a dose of humility is required,
Or if you’re feeling fed up, old and tired,
Stand before Giovanni Bellini’s
The Feast of the Gods made aged 83.
That's all for now have a good week....CB