Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 6 July 2023
229. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media if she has engaged with either the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment and/or his officials and/or with the Corporate Enforcement Agency in respect of RTÉ and/or its contractors and/or persons acting on behalf of contractors. [33238/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy officials have engaged with officials from the Department of Enterprise, Trade in relation to the role of the Corporate Enforcement Agency.
The Corporate Enforcement Agency is the statutory body responsible for enforcing and encouraging compliance with company law, investigating suspected offences under the Companies Act, prosecuting detected breaches of the Companies Act, referring cases to the Director of Public Prosecutions for prosecution on indictment, and exercising a supervisory role over the activities of liquidators and receivers. It has significant enforcement powers to carry out its statutory functions.
The Corporate Enforcement Authority is independent in the performance of its functions, as provided for under Section 944D (4) of the Companies Act 2014. I have been advised that this provision is intended to ensure that the law is enforced without the possibility of interference from any party or the appearance of any such interference.
While I understand that some subsidiary companies of RTÉ file their accounts with the Companies Registration Office as required under the Companies Act and are therefore subject to CEA supervision, RTÉ Group Accounts are laid before the Oireachtas in line with the provisions of the Broadcasting Act, 2009 and therefore do not come within the remit of the CEA.
On 4 July 2023, I announced the commissioning of an independent, root and branch examination of RTÉ, composed of two separate and parallel reviews. I expect to receive the final reports within six months of the commencement of the examination, and interim reports will be submitted as required.
In addition, I expect to appoint a forensic accountant under s109(7)(a) of the Broadcasting Act, 2009 early next week. They will investigate the barter accounts and whether there are any other off balance sheet accounts in the first instance.
