Dunphy -a decent guy

longrunsthefox · January 30, 2009, 10:54:19 AM

RTÉ RADIO presenter and TV soccer pundit Eamon Dunphy has volunteered to take a 10 per cent cut in pay, and has said that "so-called stars" at the station are "probably overpaid".
Dunphy said he was taking the cut in his salary, understood to be in the region of €320,000, in solidarity with lower-paid workers who were facing pay cuts and job losses.
"I think it's the right thing to do. Aren't I lucky to have a job? And it's a job that I like, and that I'm well paid for."
Dunphy, who is on contract with the station, said he made his decision in the knowledge that directly-paid staff of RTÉ, the majority of whom were on far lower salaries, were facing pay freezes. "I am very conscious that people I work with on the programme are facing pay freezes or wage cuts, while so-called stars in RTÉ are probably overpaid."
He was also conscious that he had used his role as a broadcaster to call for the better-off in society to "take the pain" of the recession.
"There's never been a crisis like this facing the country, and I believe if you talk the talk, you have to walk the walk. My taking a pay cut is just a gesture, but if it could save one job, or two jobs of the people I work with . . . I believe it's time to show that solidarity."
Dunphy's comments come just days after an Oireachtas committee suggested that RTÉ's highest paid presenters should take a pay cut. When asked if he believed other well-paid presenters should also take a pay cut, Dunphy said: "Everybody must make their own mind up, everybody's circumstances are different, but I could not go on accepting a very large salary while people are losing their jobs."
Radio and TV presenters Derek Mooney and Miriam O'Callaghan have also indicated their willingness to accepts cuts.
The station's highest paid star, Pat Kenny, could not be contacted by The Irish Times yesterday, but he was reported in the Evening Herald as saying he was suspicious of the Oireachtas communications committee's motivation in calling for the cuts.
Efforts were also made yesterday to contact Marian Finucane, Gerry Ryan, Ryan Tubridy and Joe Duffy, but no responses were received.
RTÉ senior management has already had its pay cut by up to 17 per cent. Directly employed staff have been asked to accept a freeze on pay, bonuses and annual increments.

I knew that Dunphy was basically a decent guy even though a loose cannon at times. I remember during world cup and all the diving going on and he said how wrong it was as life is full of cheating and chicanary and we go to sport hoping to get away from that. Also, and I said it on board at time he spoke from the heart on Late Late Show on GAA about going to games with his DAD as a youngster and finding a sense of identity at Dublin games when he returned from England. He has made loads of mistakes and been outragous at times but he is one of the good guys.

stpauls · January 30, 2009, 10:57:38 AM

big deal!! so what if he is taking a 10% pay cut to show his solidarity with lower paid workers!! he is still taking home a €288,000 salary!! the workers he is showing sympathy to probably still only take home at most 20% of his new wage packet!!

Maguire01 · January 30, 2009, 11:01:20 AM

One of the GAA's finest.

Muzz · January 30, 2009, 11:01:46 AM

Quote from: stpauls on January 30, 2009, 10:57:38 AM
big deal!! so what if he is taking a 10% pay cut to show his solidarity with lower paid workers!! he is still taking home a €288,000 salary!! the workers he is showing sympathy to probably still only take home at most 20% of his new wage packet!!

Isnt it the fact he didnt "HAVE" to do this and if he hadnt of done this other workers may have had further cuts than they would have had?

Hound · January 30, 2009, 11:05:57 AM

He didn't have to do it, and it might save one job. So fair play. There's a bit of the Niall Quinns about it, but the really positive thing is now journalists are going to be tormenting Pat Kenny, Gerry Ryan, Joe Duffy etc into doing the same thing.

nifan · January 30, 2009, 11:11:57 AM

Quotebut I could not go on accepting a very large salary while people are losing their jobs.

€288,000 is no longer "a very large salary" then....

Rossie11 · January 30, 2009, 11:12:34 AM

Quotebut the really positive thing is now journalists are going to be tormenting Pat Kenny, Gerry Ryan, Joe Duffy etc into doing the same thing.

Exactly and 10% of the Planks salary is 80K...

glens abu · January 30, 2009, 11:14:30 AM

fair play to him at least he is making some sort of gesture,if everyone did the same it would at least save a few jobs

longrunsthefox · January 30, 2009, 11:19:22 AM

Quote from: stpauls on January 30, 2009, 10:57:38 AM
big deal!! so what if he is taking a 10% pay cut to show his solidarity with lower paid workers!! he is still taking home a €288,000 salary!! the workers he is showing sympathy to probably still only take home at most 20% of his new wage packet!!

Is few others taking that lead... the overpaid Premiership and Celtic 'stars' all north Belfast likes to drool over for starters...

full back · January 30, 2009, 11:20:55 AM

Bit harsh there st pauls
He may not be everyone's cup of tea but it is a decent gesture
At least the focus is now on the rest of the highly paid 'stars' $:-\$

Doesnt look like the plank is too keen on it.......

The station's highest paid star, Pat Kenny, could not be contacted by The Irish Times yesterday, but he was reported in the Evening Herald as saying he was suspicious of the Oireachtas communications committee's motivation in calling for the cuts.

The GAA · January 30, 2009, 11:27:21 AM

Fair play to him. not many others volunteering

stpauls · January 30, 2009, 11:28:32 AM

it may be a bit harsh, and fair enough, he is the only one so far to do so, but it is not exactly like he is going to starve on €288k a year for doing f@*k all but talking shite on the tv. if he took a 50% cut i would be more impressed!!

i feel the same way about...

Quote from: longrunsthefox on January 30, 2009, 11:19:22 AM
the overpaid Premiership and Celtic 'stars' all north Belfast likes to drool over for starters...

who get paid enough money to feed an African country!! they need to be the ones to do something similar, but sure they wouldn't even donate a months wages to the nurses!!!

longrunsthefox · January 30, 2009, 11:37:39 AM

Quote from: stpauls on January 30, 2009, 11:28:32 AM
it may be a bit harsh, and fair enough, he is the only one so far to do so, but it is not exactly like he is going to starve on €288k a year for doing f@*k all but talking shite on the tv. if he took a 50% cut i would be more impressed!!

i feel the same way about...

Quote from: longrunsthefox on January 30, 2009, 11:19:22 AM
the overpaid Premiership and Celtic 'stars' all north Belfast likes to drool over for starters...

who get paid enough money to feed an African country!! they need to be the ones to do something similar, but sure they wouldn't even donate a months wages to the nurses!!!

Well, we're agreed on that anyway! There was a Republic of Ireland player a few years ago (can't remember which) who was annoyed that Brain Kerr made them visit childrens hospitals. God love him

drici · January 30, 2009, 11:43:14 AM

Quote from: longrunsthefox on January 30, 2009, 11:37:39 AM
Well, we're agreed on that anyway! There was a Republic of Ireland player a few years ago (can't remember which) who was annoyed that Brain Kerr made them visit childrens hospitals. God love him

Who is the one that Tom Humphries writes about sometimes who tore up a wad of money in front of impoverished children in an eastern European country?

Tony Baloney · January 30, 2009, 11:46:53 AM

Lovely!