Written answers
Tuesday, 11 July 2023
Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht
Raidió Teilifís Éireann
Peadar Tóibín (Meath West, Aontú)
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320. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if she has been alerted to any instances where RTÉ may have been compromised editorially by financial transactions or barter accounts. [34262/23]
Catherine Martin (Dublin Rathdown, Green Party)
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A 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
- 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.
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.
Peadar Tóibín (Meath West, Aontú)
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321. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if the investigation into matters in RTÉ will seek to determine if RTÉ has been compromised editorially by financial transactions or barter accounts. [34263/23]
Catherine Martin (Dublin Rathdown, Green Party)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source
A trusted public service broadcaster is a vital part of our democracy. Given the recent governance 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 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
- 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.
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.
Peadar Tóibín (Meath West, Aontú)
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322. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if she is aware of any commercial arrangement RTÉ had with any other car manufacturer other than a company (details supplied) which resulted in payments to a barter account, and or an increase in salary for any RTÉ employee or board member. [34264/23]
Catherine Martin (Dublin Rathdown, Green Party)
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On Tuesday last week, the Government approved 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
- 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 2009 to appoint a forensic accountant who will focus in the first instance on the barter account 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.
I do not wish to pre-empt any findings that may be made by the forensic accountant in relation to the barter account, whether in relation to the company set out in the details supplied or any other matter.
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