Members of the Dáil's Public Accounts Committee (PAC) are to consider an offer from RTÉ aimed at ending an impasse over a document relating to former presenter Ryan Tubridy.
RTÉ Director General Kevin Bakhurst has written to committee members offering an "extensive and detailed summary" of a note taken at a meeting between agent Noel Kelly and former director general Dee Forbes in May 2020.
It was during that virtual meeting that the underwriting agreement for Mr Tubridy’s contract was decided.
PAC has been demanding to see the note which some members have said is central to their investigation into the pay deal which ultimately resulted in the former Late Late Show host leaving the broadcaster.
However, RTÉ has refused to hand over the document citing client and solicitor confidentiality.
In a letter to committee members this afternoon, Mr Bakhurst offered a workaround solution which would give members details of what is contained in the note, but only if they agree not to discuss it publicly.
In his letter, Mr Bakhurst reiterates that the note is the subject of solicitor-client confidentiality, but said he understands the committee’s request to look at the decision again "in the interest of transparency".
He said RTÉ "wishes to respectfully reach a mutually acceptable compromise" that will address the concerns of the committee.
As an alternative, he said, RTÉ will "provide the committee with an extensive and detailed summary of the note," but only "if it can be agreed that such information would be examined in private session only".
The proposal contends that the contents of the note "and any discussions relating to it would not be examined, discussed or referred to in any public session and will not be published by the PAC".
He added: "We appreciate this proposal may be considered somewhat convoluted, however RTÉ must be cognoscente of other valuable and sensitive investigative journalism and programming being carried out by RTÉ and the central role of RTÉ solicitor’s office has in that work."
Committee members have been considering the correspondence this evening and are likely to discuss it when they meet tomorrow morning.
Committee members and Social Democrats TD Catherine Murphy said she does not believe the workaround should be accepted.
She told RTÉ News: "We will be writing a report. How can we write a report without referring to something that is a central piece of information. I don’t think the proposed workaround will be acceptable."
Another member, speaking privately, took the view that the offer is a pragmatic solution which should be accepted by the committee.
Meanwhile, Mr Bakhurst has said that a document setting out RTÉ's future plans should be ready to be shared with staff early next week.
In a message to employees, Mr Bakhurst said the plan has been approved by the RTÉ Board.
"This strategic vision is the first step in engaging with our many stakeholders - Government, you, the media, the public, our audience, independent producers, regulators, service providers, and others - on the future of RTÉ," Mr Bakhurst wrote.
"Your feedback, along with that from other stakeholders, will inform the development of RTÉ's Statement of Strategy for 2024-2028, which is due in the new year," he added.
RTÉ has been hit with a sharp fall in TV licence fee revenue following revelations in June over the under-declaration of Ryan Tubridy’s salary.
Last month, Minister for Media Catherine Martin warned that the fall in licence fee revenue could cost RTÉ €61m over this year and next year.
In September, Mr Bakhurst announced a recruitment freeze and a pause in discretionary spending at the broadcaster.
Last week, Taoiseach Leo Varadkar was asked about RTÉ's strategic plan and said he was not necessarily of the view that he wanted a national broadcaster that is much smaller than it is now.
"If public service broadcasting is of real value, then it should continue," he said.
Additional reporting: Brian O'Donovan
