Chair of the RTÉ Board Siún Ní Raghallaigh has said that leaks from the board surrounding the appointment process for the Director General were "unfortunate" but were being dealt with.
Ms Ni Raghallaigh was addressing a meeting of the Oireachtas Committee on Tourism, Culture, Arts, Sport and Media.
Ms Ni Raghallaigh was appointed chair of the board last November. One of that board's most recent tasks was the recruitment of a new director general.
However, while that process was ongoing, reports appeared in the media suggesting divisions at board level.
Yesterday, RTÉ announced that media executive Mr Bakhurst had been appointed its next Director General.
Mr Bakhurst, who was Managing Director of News and Current Affairs from 2012 to 2016, will take over the role from Dee Forbes, whose current term ends in July.
Asked by Senator Malcolm Byrne about the leaks, Ms Ní Raghallaigh said the process the board went with was rigorous and competitive and the appointment of Mr Bakhurst was a unanimous decision.
Ms Ní Raghallaigh said it was unfortunate what happened, no one wanted to see that, but it happened and has to be dealt with.
She said the board has obligations under the Broadcasting Act and it has healthy and rigorous debate.
Senator Shane Cassells put it to Ms Ní Raghallaigh that the leaks surrounding the process had caused reputational damage and brand damage.
The chair said everything is a learning experience; we take away and we learn from this and as a board we have had a discussion about it, she commented.
She also said she would not comment on individuals.
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Separately, Ms Ní Raghallaigh said there are "myriad" issues affecting the payment of the RTÉ licence fee.
It is not just 15% evasion, there is also the percentage of people paying who are carrying the others who are consuming but not paying, she added.
She said she did not think there was a magic solution but people have to work together on the issue.
She said the group set up to look at the licence fee is due to report in the short term, and she said she was heartened by the support from the department and minister and she feels there is a move to get a resolution.
Ms Ní Raghallaigh was due to say that the Government must swiftly enact its plan on the reform of the licence fee in order to "ensure public service media is to survive and thrive".
She contends that Ireland's population is "too small to sustain public service media by licence fee alone" but RTÉ must also be "as resourceful and creative as possible in generating income to deliver against its comprehensive remit".
The remarks were contained in her opening statement supplied to the committee.
When asked about pay disparity for Irish language workers, she said she understood there was a review being undertaken in RTÉ and grading of employees. She said she did not get involved in operational issues but has faith that the review will address concerns.
In addition, Ms Ní Raghallaigh warned that Ireland faces "a real risk of cultural dilution" due to the "increasing reach of international streaming services".
She said that while RTÉ has "embraced many of the opportunities of digital technologies", "increased investment in digital services will need to be prioritised" as the company competes against "global giants with deep pockets" who continue to "invest in compelling content for global audiences".
Ms Ní Raghallaigh noted that technological change "while necessary, is often expensive", but added in her statement that RTÉ's capacity "to innovate and adapt is central to the success of the organisation".
Montrose valuation
Deputy Brendan Griffin asked Ms Ní Raghallaigh if RTÉ needed the complex at Montrose, and if it had been valued.
The RTÉ chair said there had been a partial sale of the site some years ago, but she was not aware of a valuation currently being carried out.
Deputy Griffin asked if the board should value their assets, and Ms Ní Raghallaigh said like everything else, it is part of the ongoing strategic review.
Senator Fintan Warfield suggested space and spare capacity at the RTÉ site in Montrose be allotted to artists. Ms Ní Raghallaigh said she was happy to bring the suggestion back to RTÉ and "but I can't gift that".
Ms Ní Raghallaigh said that her last four months as chair had been really interesting and that she sees a lot of opportunities for the broadcaster. She said a strategic review is ongoing and she expects it will be discussed in the "latter part of this year".
Additional reporting Paul Cunningham
