The RTÉ Board and executives say they will welcome a Garda investigation “if fraud was committed”.
On Wednesday, they arrived at Leinster House once again to face questioning from the Oireachtas Media Committee over RTÉ’s expenditure of public funds and governance issues.
During the hearing, TD Mattie McGrath questioned whether they would welcome a “criminal inquiry”, and claimed the “fraud squad” are required to deal with the situation.
“Will you co-operate,” the Tipperary native asked.
Interim Deputy Director General Adrian Lynch responded: “If any fraud was committed then of course we would welcome any investigation.”
Former RTÉ Board Chair Moya Doherty said no fraud has been committed, even though there was a lack of transparency.
Ms Doherty admitted: “I’m sure everyone would cooperate if an investigation was necessary”.
Last week, RTÉ’s Chief Financial Officer Richard Collins said he believes “over €1 million” has gone through the broadcaster’s barter account over the past decade.
But on Tuesday evening – it was revealed there was more than one of these accounts.
The broadcaster used the barter account system for €1.6million in client entertainment and corporate hospitality over the last decade – nearly €400,000 more than previously disclosed.
The RTÉ Board met on Tuesday evening, and a spokesperson said it had no comment to make on the additional barter accounts.
They added that RTÉ would provide comment and context regarding these barter accounts during today’s meeting of the Oireachtas Media Committee.
Just weeks ago, the broadcaster was plunged into chaos when it was revealed that Ryan Tubridy’s earnings were publicly understated by €345,000 over the last six years.
The issue was identified during a routine audit of RTÉ’s 2022 accounts, prompting an independent review of the matter.
Last month, The RTÉ Board issued an apology over the error in Ryan’s reported salary, and later the presenter himself apologised for not questioning the broadcaster over his published earnings.
The scandal resulted in the suspension of RTÉ’s Director General Dee Forbes, who later resigned from her role.
During the initial hearing, it emerged that RTÉ underwrote a commercial sponsorship of Ryan by Renault.
RTÉ labelled invoices of €75,000 payments as “consultancy fees” and the now-infamous barter account was used to pay them.
Minister Catherine Martin has since announced an independent examination of RTÉ, and the appointment of two Expert Advisory Committees, composed of experts in their field, to oversee the two different strands of this examination. The examination will be supported by professional services firms engaged by my Department.”
