Minister Catherine Martin has revealed she expressed her concerns about staff morale at RTÉ during a meeting with the broadcaster’s incoming Director General today.
The Media Minister met with incoming DG Kevin Bakhurst, chair of the RTÉ board Siún Ní Raghallaigh, and interim Deputy Director General Adrian Lynch at her Department.
The meeting with was due to happen tomorrow, but was brought forward by Minister Martin amid rising concerns over RTÉ’s ongoing payments scandal.
The Department said the meeting would “discuss how RTÉ will facilitate the completion of the examination and the immediate next steps they will be taking to contribute to the restoration of trust and confidence”.
Speaking after today’s meeting, Ms Martin said in a statement: “I met today with the Chair of the RTÉ Board, Siún Ní Raghallaigh, the incoming Director General of RTÉ, Kevin Bakhurst, and the Deputy Director General, Adrian Lynch.”
“I made clear that I am not satisfied with the way in which information has been provided to the RTÉ Board, to the public and to the Oireachtas.”
“The drip feed of information over the past two weeks has been another blow to RTÉ and has caused untold harm.”
Arts minister Catherine Martin has been briefed on Bakhurst’s plans to reconstitute RTE’s top level management group, the executive board – won’t be drawn on what that contains, but she’s asked him to address RTE’s audience on Monday to make clear his plans @VirginMediaNews pic.twitter.com/P4EGErhxeo
— Gavan Reilly (@gavreilly) July 6, 2023
“It was a constructive meeting with a full and frank exchange of views,” she continued. “I expressed my concerns about staff morale at RTÉ and the damage that has been done to the relationship between RTÉ and the Oireachtas.”
“I emphasised to the incoming Director General that it is now critical that he works, from day one on Monday, to change the tone and culture between the executive and the board and staff.”
“I expressed my disappointment at the lack of engagement the executive has had with staff in the past two weeks, and I welcome that RTÉ senior management will meet RTÉ trade unions tomorrow about the ongoing crisis at the broadcaster.
“In the spirit of beginning a real and meaningful reset, I also stressed that the new DG must take immediate steps to publicly speak on Monday to the widening gulf between RTÉ and, its most important stakeholder, its audience. A relationship that has been so considerably damaged in this debacle.”
“The Director General committed to full cooperation with the independent, root and branch examination and the forensic accountant that will be appointed next week, and it was agreed that these actions would complement the work and reform of RTÉ that he is planning.
“Mr. Bakhurst reassured me of his plans to reconstitute the Executive Board, his plans to engage with staff and to introduce new processes to restore confidence in the management in RTÉ. I now expect these to be addressed promptly,” she added.
Speaking to reporters after today’s meeting, Mr Bakhurst also vowed to restore trust in RTÉ.
Incoming RTÉ Director General Kevin Bakhurst has said he had a frank and very useful meeting with Minister for Media Catherine Martin today. He told reporters that he set out his plans, which he will be announcing on Monday in more detail | https://t.co/DnMToRWo2s pic.twitter.com/CdXKsORE79
— RTÉ News (@rtenews) July 6, 2023
