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

Fáiltím roimh an deis seo labhairt leis an Teach faoi na mór-theipeanna rialachais chorparáidigh a tháinig chun solais in RTÉ le coicís anuas. Luaigh mé an ról ríthábhachtach atá ag craolachán seirbhíse poiblí a fheidhmíonn go láidir agus a d’fheidhmigh go héifeachtach chun an daonlathas a chosaint cúpla uair ó tháinig na cúrsaí uafásacha seo chun cinn. Is fiú béim a leagan air arís ag tús an ráitis seo áfach, agus ar urlár an Tí.

I welcome this opportunity to address the House on the serious corporate governance failings that have come to light in RTÉ within the past two weeks. I have stated this a number of times since these shocking matters arose, but it is worth emphasising again, at the commencement of these statements and on the floor of the House, the critical role that robust and properly functioning public service broadcasting plays in maintaining the health of our democracy.

At a time in which disinformation and misinformation are on the rise, there has never been a greater need for independent, reliable voices and institutions that are trusted by audiences. Our common public sphere ultimately rests on a shared understanding of the facts. This can only be provided by truthful, impartial, objective and fair reporting provided by an independent media sector characterised by strong, accountable public service broadcasters.

On becoming Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media in 2020, one of my priorities was to deliver on the commitment in the programme for Government to put in place a Future of Media Commission. That commission was formed within three months of my coming into office in September 2020. It was tasked with undertaking a comprehensive and far-reaching examination of Ireland's broadcast, print and online media and to consider how media can remain sustainable and resilient in delivering public service aims over the next decade.

The report of the Future of Media Commission and the recommendations therein, which were published in July 2022, form a framework to support the development of Ireland’s media sector and to ensure that it remains viable, independent and capable of delivering public service aims. I remain committed to supporting the implementation of the many recommendations in the report of the Future of Media Commission that assist our local, regional and national media organisations and independent production sector. I also remain committed to supporting independent, accountable public service broadcasters that are capable of fulfilling their statutory duty of providing television, radio and other media services that have the character of a public service.

Ever since its predecessor, Radio Éireann, began broadcasting, RTÉ has been at the centre of Ireland's public service broadcasting. As I said outside Government Buildings earlier, RTÉ created a public space for the people of Ireland to speak of and to one another. At its best, it held up a mirror to Irish society that revealed not only the good in our society but also the many injustices.

Our Irish culture also found a new expression, in Irish and English, on radio, then television and, today, through new digital modes of expression. Through public service broadcasting, our artists and writers discovered a new national audience composed of their fellow citizens, an audience hungry for new knowledge, experience and insights and one that wants to see their own dreams, aspirations and struggles reflected back to them.

From an economic as well as a cultural standpoint, RTÉ today plays an important role in sustaining an Irish independent production sector that has the capacity to foster Irish creative talent and develop distinctly Irish films, television, radio and animation productions. RTÉ also plays a central role in the most intense and important phases of our democracy by providing impartial coverage and a neutral platform during election and referendum campaigns.

However, all of this rests on trust - trust not only between a broadcaster and its audience but between a national institution and the people of the country. The revelations of the past number of days have been an absolute betrayal of that trust. They have threatened to undermine the principles of public service broadcasting itself, which are, after all, based fundamentally on revealing the truth. People need their trust in RTÉ restored. The glaring corporate governance failings that have come to light and the culture within RTÉ that enables them must be addressed as a priority. We must have full and immediate transparency so that any other issues that emerge may be brought to light without delay.

As Deputies are aware, Grant Thornton has been commissioned by the RTÉ board to conduct a further review into the understatement by RTÉ of the additional €120,000 related to the period 2017 to 2019. The first Grant Thornton report, published by RTÉ last week, indicates that this €120,000 end-of-contract payment was not, in fact, paid. The new Grant Thornton review is seeking to establish the facts as to why, if not paid, it was deducted from the published figures of Mr. Tubridy.

While the chair of the RTÉ Board has advised me that this further review will take up to four weeks, I have asked for it to be accelerated due to the extreme urgency and seriousness of this situation. I am advised by RTÉ that work is progressing ahead of schedule now and I have been assured that all concerned are using their best endeavours to complete the review as soon as possible.

However, in order to help restore trust, the Government must take action. It is essential to address the governance structure and organisational culture that enabled this issue to arise and to prevent the recurrence of this or similar issues in the future. In addition, it is also essential to address certain HR issues and matters arising from the use of external contractors and the fees paid to them, which are also critical to help to restore public confidence in RTÉ. Accordingly, and to ensure that the totality of issues at RTÉ are addressed, the Government today approved an independent root-and-branch examination of RTÉ comprising two parallel elements focused on, first, a review of governance and culture and, second, a review of contractor fees, human resources and other matters.

The reviews will be overseen by two expert advisory committees, which will be assisted by professional services and have a secretariat drawn from the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media. The review of governance and culture will be overseen by a committee chaired by Professor Niamh Brennan and will include Dr. Margaret Cullen and a third member who will be appointed in the coming days. Professor Brennan and Dr. Cullen are both acknowledged experts in the fields of corporate governance and I am very grateful that they have agreed to contribute their time and expertise. The review of contractor fees, HR and other matters will be overseen by a committee chaired by Mr. Brendan McGinty and will include Ms Patricia King and a third member who will be appointed in the coming days. Mr. McGinty and Ms King will bring their vast experience and judgment to this task. I thank them for their commitment.

A process will be put in place to ensure the cross co-ordination between the two elements of the examination, which will be carried out separately but in parallel. The terms of reference for the review of governance and culture will focus on conducting an examination of RTÉ’s corporate governance framework and advise on whether the corporate governance framework reflects best governance practice for commercial State bodies, as set out in the Code of Practice for the Governance of State Bodies; complies with the relevant legislative provisions which apply to RTÉ; and includes a robust system of internal governance, including appropriate divisions of responsibilities, operational procedures, internal checks and balances relevant to the organisational context of RTÉ, and direction and oversight by the executive board and RTÉ board. This will include an examination of the barter account and its governance.

The terms of reference also provide for an assessment of any organisational cultural characteristics and ways of conducting business within RTÉ identified from the corporate governance examination and that are likely to have contributed to the findings in the two Grant Thornton reviews commissioned by RTÉ. This will also involve a look at issues such as staff morale and engagement as well as the impact of RTÉ’s commercial income activities on its public service remit. Arising from this assessment, the report will make recommendations to reform organisational culture, which will support staff engagement and a positive working environment to deliver a more open, transparent and accountable organisation.

I am also conscious that there are wider issues within RTÉ with regard to contracts and the terms and conditions of employment. I have noted the comments of Mr. Robert Shortt, the staff member elected to the board of RTÉ, who, at last week’s Joint Committee on Media, Tourism, Arts, Culture, Sport and the Gaeltacht meeting, stated that many in RTÉ are uncomfortable with the high earnings of certain presenters, particularly in the context of an industry that is rapidly changing within an environment of declining commercial revenue.

Last week, I also met representatives of the RTÉ trade union group, including the National Union of Journalists, who voiced these and other concerns.

The review of contractor fees, human resources and other matters will have the following terms of reference: to examine oversight and mechanisms by which RTÉ engages presenters and contractors, including fees, the use of agents, the impact on costs borne by RTÉ and the governance of same; to examine issues arising from the use of short-term employment contracts at all levels; to examine employment terms and conditions with particular emphasis on gender equality, diversity and inclusion and whether any of the existing recruitment and HR practices, in particular those outlined, have an impact on equality and opportunity; and to make recommendations to me in relation to the above matters.

I am also cognisant of and wish to acknowledge and commend the work last week of both the Joint Committee on Tourism, Culture, Arts, Sport and Media and the Committee of Public Accounts in their deliberations with the representatives of the board and executive board of RTÉ. Their work has also helped to inform the areas to be covered in the examination. I will also, if necessary, extend the terms of reference of the reports to take account of any further issues that come to light in the course of their work.

It is imperative that we get this right and allow the reviews sufficient time to do the job properly. It is expected that the examination will take six months from the commencement of work. However, I will expect to receive periodic interim reports on progress during the review process. I also expect that RTÉ itself will continue to robustly assess its practices and review all matters relevant to this issue, with a view to ensuring full transparency and immediately addressing any failings or weaknesses.

To further underpin the work of the expert advisory committees, I intend to invoke my powers under section 109(7)(a) of the Broadcasting Act 2009 to appoint a forensic accountant to examine the books or other records of account of RTÉ in respect of any financial year or other period. The forensic accountant will initially direct its focus to the barter account and any other off-balance sheet accounts. My officials are currently progressing this matter in conjunction with the Office for Government Procurement.

This comprehensive and far-reaching examination will examine governance, culture and practices in RTÉ in an unprecedented manner. Public service broadcasting should be independent and have public interest as its core tenet. It can only do so if it is open, transparent and accountable to the public. The many committed professionals who work across all functions in RTÉ are owed that. The public, the audience central to the core of RTÉ's mission, is owed that. The Oireachtas, as the representative body of the people, is owed that. Our collective trust and confidence must be regained.

I have emphasised the need for the board and executive at RTÉ to work constructively with all examinations and reviews into the organisation in the weeks ahead. The chair of the board has given me her assurance on this point. I will reiterate this when, this Friday, 7 July, I meet the chair and the incoming director general.

Tuigim go rímhaith an bóthar deacair atá rompu sa tréimhse amach romhainn. Mar sin féin, táim lánchinnte gur féidir muinín a atógáil má léiríonn gach duine atá páirteach anois an tiomantas don fhírinne agus do leas an phobail atá i gcroílár chraoltóireacht seirbhíse poiblí. I do not underestimate the difficult road they have ahead of them over the coming period. However, I am confident that trust can be restored if all those involved now demonstrate the dedication to the truth and the public good that is the essence of public service broadcasting.

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