Minister for Media Catherine Martin has said she hopes that incoming RTÉ Director General Kevin Bakhurst's plan to "reconstitute" the executive board will "complement" the Government’s twin track review of RTÉ’s practices.
The Government earlier agreed to establish a review of governance and culture at RTÉ following discussions at Cabinet this morning.
The first review will examine and make recommendations on the measures necessary to build stronger governance structures and reform the organisational culture at RTÉ and will be overseen by Professor Niamh Brennan and Dr Margaret Cullen.
A second review into the payment of contractors and other matters including gender equality and inclusion will be led by Brendan McGinty and Patricia King.
These reviews are set to complete their work in six months.
"Our process is to examine culture and governance but also looking at engagement of presenters, contractors, agents and the cost of that, the governance of that but also looking at employment contracts and how that impacts on inclusivity, diversity and equality.
"I think that is a separate process to the job of work that Kevin has to do. I’ll be meeting him this Friday to discuss that.
Speaking on RTÉ's Six One, she said she would like to know what Mr Bakhurst's intentions are with the executive board, after the Oireachtas Public Accounts Committee heard last week of plans to "reconstitute" it.
"We've heard the term 'reconstituting the executive board.’ I’d like to know exactly what his intentions are with the executive board and what his plans are to create a better culture here.
"A culture of good governance, a culture of a healthy work environment and building the trust. That’s the job of work that I hope this examination will lead to," Ms Martin said.
"I would like to emphasise the absolute value to democracy and society that public broadcasting service does. There's a job of work to be done now to build the trust with the public but also with the staff here in RTÉ.
"We have to chart a path forward and I think this is a way forward," Ms Martin said, adding that she is not going to place a time limit on the Government reviews of RTÉ.
"Haste is probably the enemy of the good in this case.
"I want this to be as long as it needs be to get to the bottom of this, also to chart a path forward of proper governance, true transparency, a healthy work environment and see that it never happens again.
Ms Martin also appealed for full transparency from those attending Oireachteas committees.
"I think that’s part of the healing process that’s needed now," she said, "we need full transparency and absolute co-operation in all parts of this process. This cannot be fixed until we have all the facts."
Ms Martin said she would not offer an opinion on Ryan Tubridy’s future with RTÉ.
"I don’t think it would be appropriate for me as Minister for Media to express an opinion on that.
"What I do think would help in all of this is if all those key figures make themselves available to the committees if they are requested to go in."
'Wide ranging review'
When announcing the review earlier, Ms Martin said that it will be wide ranging and will lead to an RTÉ that everyone can trust, and a better culture in RTÉ.
She said she expects change for the better and the job of Government is to get the trust back in public service broadcasting.
Among the issues to be looked at are the fees of independent contractors, the use of agents and agents fees, Ms Martin said.
The Minister will start a procurement process this week for a forensic accountant to look at barter accounts and any other accounts that may be off the balance sheet.
She said she was hopeful the forensic accountant will be in place by the beginning of August and that it might take until the end of August for the reviews to start.
Ms Martin said she has had extensive engagement with stakeholders and decided to broaden the scope of the review.
She said that the reviews will also look at "potential conflicts of interests in relation to commercial engagement" and at the role of agents.
"That’s in the second review. It will examine the contractor fees and the mechanisms which RTÉ engage presenters and contactors," she said.
"That would include the use of agents. It will look at the cost of doing things and the way it’s governed or not governed.
"It will also look at short-term employment contracts at all levels and employment terms and conditions, recruitment and HR practices and the impact of those practices on gender diversity, equality and opportunity.
"Trust has been lost here with the public and with the staff. Our job of work here is to restore that trust."
Read more:
What could have been done to avoid RTÉ's 'governance failure'?
How is public service media funded across Europe?
Emergency motion on RTÉ to be raised at ICTU conference
Payments crisis raises questions on funding for RTÉ and public service broadcasting
Oireachtas Media Committee
Meanwhile, People Before Profit TD Richard Boyd Barrett has said politicians still do not have the "full truth" about what he described as the deliberately orchestrated deceit to hide payments at RTÉ.
He says "full disclosure" is needed from former Director General Dee Forbes; Director of Content Jim Jennings; talent agent Noel Kelly and presenter Ryan Tubridy.
RTÉ bosses will appear again before the Oireachtas Media Committee tomorrow to answer further questions on the controversy.
The executives include interim Deputy Director General Adrian Lynch, Chief Financial Officer Richard Collins, Director of Commercial Geraldine O'Leary, and Director of Strategy Rory Coveney.
It has also been confirmed that two members of the RTÉ Board will also attend - Ms Ní Raghallaigh and RTÉ staff representative Robert Shortt. The former chair of the RTÉ Board, Moya Doherty, will also be at the meeting.
Former RTÉ chief financial officer Breda O'Keeffe will also attend.
With additional reporting by Paul Cunningham, Michéal Lehane and Sinéad Crowley
