Chair of the RTÉ Board Siún Ní Raghallaigh has said she welcomes the changes outlined by Director General Kevin Bakhurst as the "first steps in an ongoing process of change that will last for many months".
Ms Ní Raghallaigh said the board met Mr Bakhurst yesterday where he outlined his commitment to rebuilding trust in RTÉ, with the public, staff and public representatives.
Mr Bakhurst told staff in an email this morning that he is standing down the RTÉ Executive Board and replacing it with a temporary interim leadership team to continue running the organisation.
He also said that under his leadership and that of the interim leadership team, RTÉ will be an organisation dedicated to working closely with staff.
In a statement, Ms Ni Raghallaigh said RTÉ has a long way to go in rebuilding its "bond of trust with the people", but said she believed that "working together across all strands of the organisation, we can do so."
This afternoon, RTÉ's Director of Commercial Geraldine O'Leary announced her early retirement with immediate effect. It follows the resignation of Rory Coveney yesterday from his role as RTÉ Director of Strategy.
Minister for Media Catherine Martin also welcomed the plans announced by Mr Bakhurst, saying it was right that his first action was to tell staff at RTÉ of his proposals.
Ms Martin said she noted in particular Mr Bakhurst's "proposals for a staff consultation group and employee survey and that he is planning a review of roles and grades, pay, and gender equality."
She also said that a "further essential change" is the announcement regarding a Register of Interests.
Ms Martin said she is awaiting further details on the interim leadership team, and that "now is the time for a reset right across RTÉ."
Irish Secretary of the National Union of Journalists Seamus Dooley said he hoped that Mr Bakhurst's initiative would mark "the beginning of a new beginning for an organisation which has been devoid of leadership for a number of years".
Mr Dooley said the NUJ will work with Mr Bakhurst and other unions in RTÉ in discussions on the new Register of Interest.
He also said that editorial standards "must be applied equally across the organisation and applied to staff and contractors regardless of the nature of their engagement with RTÉ."
In a statement, the RTÉ Trade Union Group said it welcomed the Director General's announcement.
It added: "Following specific commitments at a positive meeting last Friday to ensure full and open engagement with the TUG and trade unions, and to drive cultural and leadership change in RTÉ, staff can begin to face the challenge of rebuilding trust in the organisation.
"We look forward to working with him."
Chair of the Oireachtas Committee on Media Niamh Smyth also welcomed Mr Bakhurst's statement.
Speaking on RTÉ's Morning Ireland, she said: "It's a defining moment for RTÉ. There are a lot of people with high hopes for a new beginning in RTÉ, a chapter in its history where it's open and transparent."
She added that Mr Bakhurst has demonstrated a willingness and preparedness to be answerable to public, licence payers and staff but "a radical plan is needed".
She said that as chair of the committee, she would ensure that both sides get fairness and respect, and take a measured and considered approach to try to maintain that level of dignity throughout the question and answering of Ryan Tubridy and Mr Bakhurst tomorrow.
