Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 11 July 2023
320. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media if she has been alerted to any instances where RTÉ may have been compromised editorially by financial transactions or barter accounts. [34262/23]
View answerA trusted public service broadcaster is a vital part of our democracy. Given the recent failings of governance in RTÉ that have come to light, that trust must be restored. This can only be accomplished through a wide-ranging and comprehensive examination of RTÉ and by putting in place new ways of doing business to prevent their recurrence.
On Tuesday last week, the Government agreed to proposals I brought forward to initiate a root and branch examination of RTÉ comprising two elements:
• an independent review to examine the governance structures and organisational culture of RTÉ overseen by an Expert Governance Advisory Committee; and,
• an independent review to examine the mechanisms by which external contractors are engaged, the fees paid, the use of agents, and other HR matters in RTÉ, overseen by an Expert Advisory Committee on Contractor Fees and HR matters
The purpose of this Examination is to support the restoration of public trust in RTÉ:
• firstly, by identifying any corporate governance and cultural weaknesses that have led to the current failings and recommending actions to remediate identified weaknesses; and,
• secondly, by reviewing issues and making recommendations in relation to how RTÉ engages presenters and contractors and the fees paid to them, particularly for high earning contractors. The review will also examine issues in relation to the use of short-term employment contracts and the impact of current practices on gender, equality, and diversity.
In addition, I am exercising powers under Section 109(7)(a) of the Broadcasting Act to appoint a forensic accountant who will focus in the first instance on the barter accounts and any other off-balance sheet accounts that may be identified. The procurement process is at an advanced stage is expected to be completed shortly.
As the reviews progress, findings may prompt, at my discretion, a widening of the scope, including those findings arising from subsequent Grant Thornton reports, the work of the Public Accounts Committee and Joint Oireachtas Committee on Tourism, Culture, Arts, Sport & Media, and issues arising from their deliberations.
The terms of reference of the Review of Governance and Culture of RTÉ provides for, inter alia , an assessment of the impact of RTÉ's commercial income activities on its public service remit. The General Commercial Communications Code currently enforced by Coimisiún na Méan provides that advertisers, sponsors and providers of placed products and services and providers of other commercial communications shall not exercise any editorial influence over the content or scheduling of programmes.
If any findings of the review indicate any such editorial influence was exercised they will be referred to Coimisiún na Meán for investigation.
