Minister Catherine Martin proposes an independent review into RTÉ

Yesterday, Ireland's coalition leaders met over the recent RTÉ pay controversy involving Ryan Tubridy, the recently retired host of The Late Late Show.

Brought forward by the Minister for Media, Catherine Martin, an independent review of the Irish broadcast network was proposed to evaluate how fit RTÉ's corporate governance is. If approved, its terms of reference to be determined over the next several days.

Revealed to the public over social media earlier this week, it was supposed to go for approval this morning.

On Twitter, Minister Martin emphasised "this week's revelations at RTÉ signal potential deeper challenges in the organisation," which is why she decided to commission the external independent review into RTÉ's "governance and culture."

This week’s revelations at RTÉ signal potential deeper challenges in the organisation

I have decided to commission an external independent review into the governance & culture at RTÉ

Full statement following my meeting with RTÉ Chair Siún Ní Raghallaigh:https://t.co/5uRTxRjRxy

— Catherine Martin TD (@cathmartingreen) June 24, 2023

She then linked a press release that went further into detail about the review and the factors that led up to her commission of it. The document echoed her original sentiment while detailing a meeting with RTÉ Chair Siún Ní Raghallaigh. Together they had discussed how to rebuild trust within the organisation and the conclusion of beginning the process through reviews of internal affairs.

"I impressed upon the Chair that re-building trust and confidence is now paramount," Catherine recalled. "This means ensuring complete transparency and clarity not only in terms of what has happened but also how matters are dealt with in the future. I expect that the Board of RTÉ will address these governance failings with thoroughness and urgency."

In turn, Raghallaigh disclosed that the broadcast network would be conducting an external review of the top 10 most highly paid presenters and that it would finish in about two weeks.

However, Minister Martin says that RTÉ's review would not be enough, hence the decision to propose the government's own review, meant to "determine what fundamental or systemic issues need to be addressed, including the adequacy of internal controls."

"While as Minister I cannot get involved in the day to day operation of RTÉ, I do need assurance that the governance and culture is fit for purpose," Martin concluded.

The development comes after TD members Mayo Alan Dillon and Imedla Munster called for Tubridy, Tubridy's agent, and the now-resigned RTÉ Director Dee Forbes to sit for the Oireachtas hearings. Despite being invited to two hearings, Forbes is no longer compelled to appear after her resignation, which she turned in after being suspended by the board last Wednesday.

RTÉ will be sending representatives, although who will be attending has yet to be disclosed.