Plans by media regulator Coimisiún na Mean (CnM) to increase its workforce over the 300-employee threshold is generating alarm in the Government.

Commenting on the scale of the ambitious regulator’s objectives, one minister said: ‘When it comes to jobs, they are insatiable. At this rate of progress, the regulator will soon be bigger than RTÉ.’

Political hostility has been growing towards CnM in the wake of a furore earlier this year over the decision to hit local radio with a €1million-plus hike in their annual broadcasting levy – a year after it rose by more than €470,000. The increase brought the total sectoral levy to almost €3.7million in this year – up from less than €2.2million just two years ago. CnM is funded through regulatory levies imposed on the media and technology sectors, as well as State funding.

There has been further political hostility over the speed with which staff levels at the statutory body have grown.

In its 2024 Annual Report, CnM – which started out with just 79 staff – proudly noted: ‘Our headcount had more than doubled to 174, and by December, we had reached 209 employees, including commissioners.’

It noted that 2024 was ‘a transformative year for recruitment at CnM, marking a period of exceptional growth and success in talent acquisition’.

The report added: ‘This rapid expansion was achieved efficiently, demonstrating the strength of our employer brand and the appeal of our mission.’

Queries from the Irish Daily Mail have established the high level of recruitment has continued, with CnM noting that by May it had ‘278 staff members plus five commissioners’.

CnM said it was ‘hiring to grow this headcount to 303 during 2026’, telling the Mail the chairman was ‘on the salary scale of a Secretary General Level 2 in the public/civil service’. It added that ‘the other three commissioners are on a fixed salary of €200,699/ annum’ and ‘information on staff earning more than €100,000 is included in our most recent annual report’ from 2024.

It further said: ‘An Coimisiún keeps staffing levels under regular review to ensure we have sufficient resources to discharge our regulatory functions as laid out in legislation.

‘An Coimisiún’s accounts for 2025, as audited by the Comptroller and Auditor General, will be included in our 2025 annual report and will be published once it is laid before the Houses of the Oireachtas normally before the end of this year.

‘Following Niamh Hodnett’s appointment as commissioner at Comreg in May, we are awaiting the appointment of a new online safety commissioner.’

A breakdown of pay provided by CnM reveals another 115 employees – 30 principal officers and 85 assistant principals – are on salary scales with an endpoint above €100,000 a year.

The scenario where more than 100 employees of yet another regulator are on six-figure salaries has generated concern in Government circles.

A minister told the Mail: ‘There is a growing sense of unease about the cost of CnM and how it carries out its remit, especially in the area of digital policing.

‘They have become so big we don’t know what they do, and they have not explained their remit very well. There have been heated discussions.

‘There are significant concerns on how they are responding to challenges posed by a new digital world.

‘Their actions appear to be confined to evidence-gathering until Europe decides.’

And a Government source said: ‘There is huge concern.

‘Their demands for cash never end.’