RTÉ has completed a Health and Safety Review of the retirement gathering in the Reception of RTÉ’s Television Building, Donnybrook, on 12th November last.

The purpose of this review was to evaluate what breaches of public health advice took place in relation to COVID-19 Protocols and how best to put additional controls in place to prevent a reoccurrence. A Garda inquiry is also under way into whether or not there were any breaches of COVID-19 regulations. This means that some issues, such as the circumstances under which the gathering took place, are outside the scope of this review and are being addressed separately.

RTÉ’s Health and Safety Review has found that five breaches occurred; three breaches of COVID-19 public health advice, one breach of the Plan for Living with COVID-19 Level 5 restrictions and a breach in RTÉ’s internal COVID-19 Protocols:

• Some people did not maintain social distancing during the gathering.
• Where the two meters social distance was breached, some people were not wearing face coverings.
• There was a breach of the requirement to avoid crowded places.
• There was a breach of the Plan for Living with COVID-19 as there should not have been any indoor gathering which does not form part of RTÉ’s delivery of an essential service.
• There was a breach of internal RTÉ COVID-19 Protocols for visitors to our site.

RTÉ Director General, Dee Forbes said: “These breaches should not have occurred and, as Director General, I am sorry that this happened. What makes this all the more disappointing is that this incident is not representative of the way our staff conduct their work in general, which is to be absolutely diligent in relation to public health guidelines and COVID-19 protocols.”

From the outset of the COVID-19 pandemic, as an essential service, RTÉ has been pro-active in prioritising the health and safety of our employees and contractors,as well as those necessarily visiting our sites to contribute to our programmes, while also delivering vital news, information and entertainment to the public.  

Dee Forbes added:“A close look at any of our productions over these past months, across our television, radio and online services, highlights our commitment to ensuring everyone who visits RTÉ is in a safe environment. However, on this occasion we fell short of our own standards. It is essential that we all learn from this and that none of us is complacent about the risks of COVID-19. We all have a role to play in protecting ourselves and others.”

In this context, RTÉ’s Health and Safety Review makes five main recommendations:

1. All present at the gathering to retake RTÉ’s COVID-19 induction training;

2. Implementation of a communications plan to reinforce RTÉ’s COVID-19 protocols;

3. Discussion of findings and lessons learned with RTÉ’s COVID-19 representatives; 

4. Review of RTÉ’s visitor access and protocols;

5. Ongoing review of RTÉ’s COVID-19 protocols.

RTÉ will implement these recommendations in full.

To read the review in full, click here.

RTÉ remains committed to ​taking all steps necessary to maintain a safe working environment for all, while continuing to deliver ​essential services to the public and the implementation of the recommendations from this review are part of this commitment.