ONE of Radio Ireland's most prominent presenters, Mr Philip Boucher-Hayes, has been let go. Mr Boucher-Hayes was the presenter of Entertainment Today, an arts, entertainment and music program me which runs between midday and 12 p.m. daily.
The National Union of Journalists (NUJ) is seeking a meeting with management about the position of Mr Boucher-Hayes and other issues.
Mr Boucher-Hayes was told last Friday that his programme would not be broadcast yesterday and he was replaced by Mr Paul Power.
It is believed Mr Boucher-Hayes was told in a letter received following Friday's programme that there was "listener resistance" to the programme.
A spokesman for Radio Ireland refused to comment, saying it was a staff matter.
Itis believed that the NUJ wishes to meet station management to discuss rosters and staff numbers. It is understood there has been particular pressure on statfing in the news area, where some staff have either left or have been allocated to other areas and have not been replaced.
Duty editor Ms Anne Cadwallader has joined the recently-established news service for local radio, INN, while political correspondent Mr Mark Costigan was moved to Day Break after co-presenter Mr Gavin Duffy left.
There are no plans to replace any of the journalists who have left the newsroom, even though the news service already operates with very limited resources.
A spokesman for the NUJ said the union had an agreement with Radio Ireland and it hoped the company was not "rowing back" on it so soon after going on air.
Radio Ireland, which started on March 17th, is believed to have attracted only about 6 per cent of the radio audience, though official figures will not be known for some months. At the time of its launch, the station said it was seeking 10 per cent of the audience.
The performance of Day Break, the flagship early morning news programme, has imprnved, but it is followed by a magazine programme, Choria, which has not lived up to expectations. Radio schedulers try to keep the audience as strong as possible for the morning, as there is a natural decline in the afternoon. At Radio Ireland it is believed there is an immediate drop following Day Break.
The Independent Radio and Television Commission (IRTC) has been informed that Mr Boucher-Hayes will not be presenting Fritertairimeril Today and that his place will be taken by Mr Power.