Editor of RTE's `Prime Time' resigns

The editor of RTE's flagship current affairs programme, Prime Time, Mr Gary Agnew, has resigned.

Mr Agnew, who has also resigned as editor of current affairs, leaves after a 2 1/2-year tenure during which the programme won several awards, including one for best current affairs programme at the Celtic Film Festival last year.

In a statement yesterday, RTE said that in the light of the station's plans to move current affairs from the television to the news division, Mr Agnew had decided to stay in television.

"RTE has acceded to his wishes and looks forward to his continued work in the programming area of RTE in the future," it said.

The resignation takes effect on August 31st.

The current affairs move to the news division will mean Prime Time's producers will be answerable to Mr Ed Mulhall, director of news, rather than to Mr Cathal Goan, director of television.

It also means journalists will be able to deliver reports with the aid of just camera and sound personnel and will not need a producer, as is considered necessary in the television division.

Mr Agnew had been current affairs editor since January 1999. His resignation is the second high profile departure from Prime Time this year. Earlier this year, Irish Times columnist Vincent Browne left the presenter's chair to work on other television projects.

Speaking yesterday, Mr Goan said Mr Agnew's decision to leave current affairs had "nothing to do with" the screening of a recent edition of Prime Time in which a Garda agent was inadvertently named.

The programme, broadcast two weeks ago, gave rise to an internal RTE investigation.

The accidental naming of the agent occurred despite a request by the Garda that the name be deleted. Almost all references to the agent were removed, but four remained.

Staff, who were told of the resignation by both Mr Agnew and Mr Goan at a meeting on Wednesday, were said not to be surprised by the news.

Rumours of the impending resignation had been circulating since Monday, said an employee.

Asked about the reaction of RTE current affairs staff to the news of Mr Agnew's resignation, Mr Goan said they did not react and they were they were "focused on the matter in hand, i.e. the move from current affairs to television".

Mr Agnew would continue working as a producer in television, said Mr Goan.

Mr Kevin Dawson, who is currently in charge of the independent productions unit, is to take over as acting current affairs editor until a permanent appointment is made in the autumn.

Mr Agnew, who is on leave, was unavailable for comment last night.