Mattie McGrath, Leader of the Rural Independent Group of TDs and member of the Oireachtas Media Committee expresses deep concern over more shocking revelations of secret deals and excessive spending at RTÉ. With RTÉ relying on taxpayers for 60% of its funding, the government must immediately suspend all public funding until a full investigation uncovers the truth and holds those responsible accountable for engaging in what appears to be unethical financial practices.
Deputy McGrath stated:
“Despite assurances last week, RTÉ has failed to provide the requested information to the Oireachtas Media Committee. Each question asked reveals further revelations, as RTÉ offers limited details to bury the matter. Given RTÉ’s history of serious corporate governance failings, the lack of transparency and accountability is unsurprising.”
“The discovery of additional ‘barter accounts,’ similar to the one used for Ryan Tubridy’s salary, adds complexity and raises concerns about management integrity and financial practices.”
“The recent performance of senior management figures at the Media Committee and their appearance before the Public Accounts Committee exposes a distressing lack of controls and oversight within RTÉ, casting serious doubt on the organization’s credibility.”
“A particularly alarming revelation is the complete failure of RTÉ’s remuneration committee. Its Chair, Moya Doherty, did not attend any crucial meetings between 2018 and 2020, raising serious doubts about the committee’s effectiveness and the board’s oversight. Ms. Doherty’s inability to provide a credible explanation further intensifies these concerns.”
“Furthermore, the RTÉ Executive Board’s remuneration committee failed to comply with its own terms of reference, neglecting to hold the required number of meetings and omitting this information from the annual report. Shockingly, the minutes of the few meetings held were not shared with the Executive Board from 2015 to 2021.”
“These revelations paint a disturbing picture of an organization lacking accountability, transparency, and adherence to basic corporate governance principles. The RTÉ Executive Board’s failure to address questions about the remuneration committee underscores the need for urgent change.”
“It is the responsibility of RTÉ’s leadership to promptly address these concerns and implement significant systemic changes to restore confidence and prevent future governance failures. We reiterate our call for a comprehensive investigation by the Garda’s National Economic Crime Bureau to uncover the truth and hold those responsible accountable.”
“We demand full transparency. The Minister responsible for RTÉ and the government have also failed to hold RTÉ accountable for public funds. Therefore, it is imperative that the Garda Fraud Squad intervenes in RTÉ to address this escalating situation. The current situation is absurd, and this scandal continues to worsen each day,” concluded Deputy McGrath
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