RTÉ has today welcomed the publication of three reports by the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sports and the Media, Catherine Martin TD.
They include the Report by the Expert Advisory Committee on Contractor Fees, HR and Other Matters and the Report by the Expert Advisory Committee on Governance and Culture, as well as the Mazars Report into RTÉ’s use of its barter account.
RTÉ accepts in principle the recommendations made in the two Expert Advisory Committee Reports.
To ensure they can formally respond in full within the timeframe suggested, the Board of RTÉ and RTÉ’s Interim Leadership Team will now take time to fully review all three reports, including the recommendations.
RTÉ has said they have begun a programme of works to deliver on the recommendations.
Following the publication of the reports, RTÉ shared details of the total amount of compensation paid by RTÉ to key management personnel in 2023, including legal fees, following their previous commitment to publish these details in advance of publication of RTÉ’s Annual Report 2023.
They also confirmed none of the former members of the RTÉ Executive, written to by RTÉ, has consented to waiving their right to confidentiality regarding exit payments.
The total amount of compensation paid to key management personnel in 2023 was €4.0 million (2022: €3.3 million), comprising salaries and other short-term employee benefits of €2.9 million (2022: €2.6 million), post-employment pension benefits of €0.4 million (2022: €0.4 million) and termination benefits €0.7 million (2022: €0.3 million).
For the purposes of the disclosure requirements of IAS 24 Related Party Disclosures, the noted that the term “key management personnel” (i.e. those persons having authority and responsibility for planning, directing and controlling the activities of the company) comprises the RTÉ Board, the Director General, the RTÉ Executive/Interim Leadership Team and the corporate functions reporting directly to the Director-General.
RTÉ Director-General, Kevin Bakhurst, said: “We welcome the publication of the three reports by the Minister and accept in principle the recommendations included in both Expert Advisory Committees.”
“We have worked closely with both Committees and with Mazars since last year to provide all information available and enable the completion of the reports.”
”We understand the need to restore trust in RTÉ following a succession of revelations last year and I hope it is clear that we take the issues which have emerged very seriously.”
”It is in this context that we are publishing today, in Note 1 below and line with our previous commitment, details of the total amount of compensation paid to key management personnel in 2023, usually reported in RTÉ’s annual reports. The termination benefit amount includes legal fees.”
”The events of last year are a source of deep frustration and disappointment to all of us in RTÉ and those connected to this organisation.”
”We have already undertaken major reform of RTÉ and addressed many of the recommendations included in the reports and we are committed to continuing on this process of reform, now with the benefit of recommendations set out in the reports today.”
”We will respond formally and in full when we have taken time to give the reports full consideration.”
”I would like to thank everyone who has continued to support RTÉ by paying their TV Licence and I would also like to acknowledge our employees and partners in the independent sector for their ongoing dedication and commitment to delivering important and engaging public service programming and content to audiences, every single day, across RTÉ’s television, radio and online services during a very challenging period.”
On behalf of the RTÉ Board, Chair Terence O’Rourke, said: “RTÉ has supported both Expert Advisory Committees and Mazars in their work and we welcome the publication of their reports by Government today.”
”Their analyses and their recommendations, all of which we accept in principle, will make a significant contribution to the task of rebuilding trust in RTÉ. RTÉ is tasked with providing a vital public service. The organisation’s corporate governance, transparency and operations must be of a standard commensurate with that mandate.“
“The Board is focused on returning RTÉ to levels of corporate governance and transparency that should define it.”
”We look forward to working with Government, staff in RTÉ and all our stakeholders, in delivering the process of transformation that commenced last year.”
