RTÉ Chairperson Moya Doherty has slammed suggestions there is a “split” between her and RTÉ’s Director General Dee Forbes.

Ms. Doherty appeared to blame the rumour on an “extraordinary” narrative “around two women” that desires to pit the two women against one another.

In an at times a terse and robust interview with Marian Finucane on RTÉ Radio One, the board member said she fully supports Ms. Forbes and her team.

Raising the issue before Marian addressed it she said: “I was deeply disappointed to read about tensions between the board and the executive.

“I stood shoulder to shoulder with the Director General- as did many of my colleagues- at the staff meeting. Of course there is robust debate,” she said.

“Of course there are deep and meaningful discussions. But there is no split. We support Dee and her team 100pc.”

Asked by Marian if there was tension between the pair, Ms. Doherty said:

“You know what Marian… there is an extraordinary piece here around two women. One woman Chair and one woman Director General.”

She added that there “always seems to be the desire to create the story that there is tension.”

The radio broadcaster then pointed out: “Well, there could be?”

To which Ms Doherty responded: “I am telling you that there isn’t.”

During the course of this morning’s interview, Ms. Finucane also told listeners that she would “engage” in talks to take a pay cut to her €300,617 salary for two weekend radio shows – according to figures released in 2017 detailing the station’s 2016 salaries.

She said: “I got a call… to say that they were going to ask to cut so I said of course I would engage on that I just want to get that in.”

Ms. Doherty then pointed out that RTE’s top earners “will now- with this 15pc pay cut and the previous 30pc- have taken an overall 45pc pay cut,” which she called “substantial.”

However Ms. Finucane quickly interjected:

“Yes but people, I presume, on very, very modest salaries would say ‘tough bananas’ you know?

“And somebody made the point that Dee [Forbes] car allowance is more than some of the staff in here are paid [per year],” she added.

Ms. Doherty’ replied: “Em… I don’t have that detail but I do think that we must take this out of the granular,” she said.

“The executive will look very closely at the granular and deal with the unions and make all of these incremental changes for the future survival and protection of jobs in the public service media.”

Asked about recent reports that 200 jobs are going to go in RTÉ, Ms. Doherty said: “I am not at an operational level. The chair and the board do not get involved at an operational level.”

But when pressed that she must have knowledge of it, she replied: “The management must now start discussion with union to improve and modernise work practices and make efficiencies.”

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