Martin reveals details of meeting with RTÉ board, says scandal has caused “untold harm”

Minister Catherine Martin has briefed the media about the outcome following her meeting with the RTÉ board, and has openly called for the broadcaster to end the “drip-feed of information” in wake of the recent scandal. 

Martin revealed she met with with Chair of the RTÉ Board, Siún Ní Raghallaigh, the incoming Director General of RTÉ, Kevin Bakhurst, and the Deputy Director General, Adrian Lynch on Thursday, and said she “made clear” that she was “not satisfied with the way in which information has been provided to the RTÉ Board, to the public and to the Oireachtas.”

Martin said the meeting was “constructive” and had a “full and frank exchange of views.”

“The drip feed of information over the past two weeks has been another blow to RTÉ and has caused untold harm.”

“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.”

The Minister called for “the spirit of beginning a real and meaningful reset” and expressed that the new Director General must take “immediate steps to publicly speak on Monday to the widening gulf between RTÉ and, its most important stakeholder, its audience.”

She added that the relationship between RTÉ and the public has been “considerably damaged in this debacle. “

Earlier this week, Martin announced a “root and branch examination” of the broadcaster, and said that the Director General was “fully committed” to taking part in the process. 

The scandal at RTÉ has become headline news in recent weeks, which has resulted in Dee Forbes resigning, and former Late Late Show host Ryan Tubridy pledging to appear before an Oireachtas committee next week.