The latest RTÉ report uncovered more dysfunctionality and an appalling culture in the broadcaster, Minister for Media Catherine Martin has said.
Ms Martin's comments follow a report published yesterday by a legal firm appointed by RTÉ to conduct a review of voluntary exit packages which found that ten departures did not satisfy the requirements of a redundancy within the meaning of the Redundancy Payments Acts.
"It's quite shocking that the executive put rules and procedures in place to govern the voluntary exit schemes and then do not adhere to them themselves," she said.
"So some staff have the rules rigidly applied but there's one rule for the others. That is just an appalling culture that existed at the time."
She said there was a shocking disregard by management in its treatment of staff and a lack of fairness and transparency.
Ms Martin said her focus was on ensuring reforms are put in place and in putting a new funding model in place.
Asked whether she had confidence in RTÉ's Interim Leadership Team and head of HR, Ms Martin said: "I have confidence in how the interim board is operating now."
It was important that the interim leadership team come before Oireachtas committees to provide accountability, she added.
She had sought and received that assurance from Director General Kevin Bakhurst when they met yesterday, she said.
Ms Martin said it was clear there were missing pieces of information and she called on people who had information to come before committees.
She added that she understood that Mr Bakhurst is currently examining whether future voluntary exit programmes should come before the board and its remuneration committee.
In a statement this afternoon, Mr Bakhurst said RTÉ accepted the findings of the report and that it found that the "rules of the two schemes were observed in all instances save one".
He added: "I remain shocked by this serious breach of procedure – my aim continues to be the implementation of measures to ensure this cannot happen again."
Mr Bakhurst said the new Governance Framework for RTÉ was nearing completion and that it will "enshrine best practice governance standards across the organisation".
"I am satisfied that the additional systemic protections that have been introduced over the last six months will safeguard future processes, including the broadening of the terms of reference and oversight controls of the Remuneration Committee, and stronger governance procedures at Interim Leadership Team level," he said.
Tánaiste 'dismayed' over revelations in latest RTÉ report
The Tánaiste said he is dismayed by the unfolding revelations at RTÉ and said the Government shares the public's anger and annoyance.
However, Micheál Martin said he believes that TV licences should be paid and told the Dáil that public service broadcasting is extremely important.
Mr Martin rejected calls for direct exchequer funding of public service media because there is always the potential for a Government in the future to reduce funding and use it as leverage "when it comes to controlling the message".
He said the idea of a universal media charge, which would be less than the current TV licence fee of €160, has been advocated by several Oireachtas committees.
Sinn Féin Spokesperson on Finance Pearse Doherty said the findings about RTÉ are damning and people are sick of the squandering of public money.
He said the only ones who are being held to account are the 60 people before the courts every day for not paying their TV licence.
There is one rule for RTÉ executives and one rule for the taxpayers, he said.
Mr Doherty called for direct exchequer funding for RTÉ which would allow for rigorous oversight of its finances by the C&AG.
PAC 'repeatedly asked about redundancies' - Kelly
Labour TD Alan Kelly, who is a member of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) member said that PAC had repeatedly asked RTÉ about the redundancies last year.
"I can't fathom why it took this long to get this information regarding these redundancy packages.
"It seems that the information was within the management team already, so why weren’t we just told what they knew there and then?
"Or, is it the case that after everything that has happened, Mr Bakhurst couldn’t fully believe the answers he’d received directly from the management team that he’d have to put on the record, so he took the safer option by commissioning this report, despite the information already being available?
"That in itself would say so much about where RTÉ is currently at".
Earlier, Minister for Finance Michael McGrath said he was satisfied that the Revenue Commissioners will apply the law without fear or favour to ensure all tax obligations are followed by RTÉ.
Mr McGrath said that while he does not direct the Revenue Commissioners in their operational duties he expects that they will be contacting RTÉ over its redundancy scheme.
Earlier, Minister for Further and Higher Education Simon Harris said yesterday's report shows another egregious breach of trust between RTÉ and the public and between RTÉ and its staff.
The minister said the Government would try and agree future funding by the summer.
However, he added, no matter which model of funding is chosen, it involves members of the public putting their hand in their pocket "and it's going to be a lot more palatable for people if they know the organisation has gotten its act together".
Mr Harris said he had an open mind about future funding but said public service broadcasting does have to be paid for and it is particularly important in an era of disinformation.
Minister Harris said he was genuinely looking forward to a moment where a report paving a way forward for RTÉ is released, rather than a report outlining everything that went wrong.
"We will need to hear very clearly from the management and the board how they intend to implement recommendations, not just lament about the past," he said.
Additional reporting Mícheál Lehane
