RTÉ pay crisis: Loss making musical, barter accounts, club membership, wages and loaned car under the spotlight at hearing

Independent TD Mattie McGrath starts by reminding everyone that “many people found humour in my accent last week”. He is referring to a misunderstanding when he asked who the RTÉ board was loyal to and members thought he was asking who the board was lying to.He also asks if they failed in their fiduciary duty.Mr McGrath raises the prospect of a Garda investigation into fraud. Moya Doherty says she has taken comfort in legal guidance that no fraud involved.

Mr Collins says it was two up to the end of 2021, when a third was added at the instigation of a client request.It was Commercial Director Geraldine O’Leary, her team and the comms team. The TD says the note is insulting the committee as it makes no reference to what the barter account was used for in reality, ie the Tubridy payments.Ms O’Leary says. “I was not part of the intention to deceive” to which the TD responds “Give it a rest.

Breda O’Keeffe, the former chief financial officer, has given a very long and detailed opening statement that effectively argues that the process she was involved in to negotiate a new deal for Ryan Tubridy differed from the outcome in key ways – most importantly, she says a proposal for RTÉ to underwrite it was rejected by the broadcaster and the first she heard of it proceeding was last week.

“I would like to apologise that, despite our best efforts, it was not possible to circulate many of the documents requested until late last night. Since the Committee’s list of requests was issued last Friday, staff across the organisation have been working over the past number of days to try and address this extensive list of queries raised by this Committee, along with the additional 31 other queries from the Public Accounts Committee.

“RTÉ has been a valued organisation in Irish life. It has played a critical role in informing our democracy, in supporting the arts, in supporting Ireland’s creative and production sectors, in providing content for children, and for all audiences, in both languages, on radio, on television, and online, for almost 100 years. A public service media that does not enjoy public trust and confidence is missing its core purpose. We must work together to restore that purpose.

As a Board we cannot fulfil our role to the highest standards when we cannot rely on the information provided.

Source: Entertainment Trends (entertainmenttrends.net)

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