Catherine Martin (Dublin Rathdown, Green Party) | Oireachtas source

The problem with the barter account has been the operation of it. We can clearly see that it was not operating in the way it should have been. That is why the forensic accountant is looking to expand the terms of reference because they are going to go back to the very origins of it in 2012, rather than just dealing with the period from 2017. There are certainly question marks over the barter account, but, as I said, it is about the operation of it. I will wait to see what the recommendations are from the expert advisory committee, and all reports will feed into it. It will do that forensic examination, and then I will look at that.

It is very clear that RTÉ can no longer use the barter account for goods and services. It can now only be cashed out. All annual trade agreements with the three barter agencies are to be signed off by both the barter agency and RTÉ's head of trading. There are a number of processes that have been strengthened now as a result of the first Mazars investigation. I await the recommendations.