Peadar Tóibín
Question:93. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media if she will provide an update on the external independent review into governance and culture at RTÉ. [33736/23]
View answerThursday, 13 July 2023
Questions (93, 104)
Colm Burke
Question:104. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media if consideration will be given to the implementation of regular external reviews of RTÉ whereby an independent root-and-branch examination of the organisation would be carried out going forward, in view of what has transpired in recent weeks; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34490/23]
View answerWritten answers
I propose to take Questions Nos. 93 and 104 together.
A trusted public service broadcaster is a vital part of our democracy. Given the recent failings 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 the failings in 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. I appointed Mazars to this role yesterday and my officials are meeting them today.
As set out in my statement following the Government meeting that day, I expect to receive the final reports within six months of the commencement of the examination, with interim reports submitted as required. As the reviews progress, findings may prompt, at my discretion, a widening of the scope of the examination, 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.
Question No. 94 answered with Question No. 80.