From Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media
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The report into Toy Show The Musical, published by RTÉ yesterday, highlights serious failings in governance oversight, financial management and appropriate control procedures in relation to this project. It is further evidence of what appears to have been a dysfunctional relationship between the Executive and the Board in RTÉ at that time.
This report relates to a single project. However, it will feed into the independent expert reviews which, with Government approval, I commissioned last July. These reviews are examining wider issues at RTÉ, including corporate governance and the culture within the organisation. I expect to receive these reports at the end of next month. They will give much needed clarity on what went wrong at RTÉ in the past; and their recommendations will inform continued efforts to reform RTÉ and restore much-needed trust in the national broadcaster.
I have given this matter serious deliberation and have discussed it with the Coalition Leaders. My priority, and that of the Government, is to ensure that the public interest is at the core of any decisions made in relation to RTÉ and public service media — a fundamental part of our society and democracy.
Whilst I do not wish to pre-empt the findings and final conclusions of the independent expert reviews, I believe that, for now, the current Board should remain in place to facilitate the proper day to day functioning of the organisation, to ensure the continuation of the process of reform and restoration of trust; and to enable ongoing accountability to, and scrutiny by, the Oireachtas.
This will provide much-needed stability for RTÉ at this critical time as it prepares to finalise its strategy for the next five years. I believe that this is in the best interest of its staff and the organisation, as a whole. There has been a significant change in the rigour of governance oversight, including necessary fundamental reforms, and a strengthening of the relationship of the Board and the Interim Leadership Team since the appointment of the current Chair.
I have noted the comments of Committee members in recent days and of the need for accountability by Board members. I agree that it is important that there is continued accountability to the Oireachtas through the ongoing valuable work of the Oireachtas Committee on Tourism, Culture, Arts, Sport and Media, and the Public Accounts Committee. I have met with the Chair of the RTÉ Board, and spoken to the Director General, and have been assured of their cooperation in this regard.