RTE chiefs faced questioning once again today before the Oireachtas regarding a scandal surrounding under-reported payments and financial mismanagement. Ryan Tubridy, one of RTE’s top earners, and his agent Noel Kelly, were previously grilled by committees in relation to the issue.
Recent revelations have shown that RTE failed to disclose €345,000 in additional payments to Tubridy between 2017 and 2022, leading to accusations of misleading the public and public representatives. Documents have also exposed excessive spending by RTE’s commercial team on concert tickets, matches, lunches, and even summer party flip flops. It has also been revealed that the Toy Show The Musical incurred a staggering €2.2 million loss in revenue.
In his opening statement today, new Director General Kevin Bakhurst is expected to acknowledge that this period has been one of the most shameful and damaging episodes in the organization’s history. He will emphasize that the public and the Oireachtas were misled, which is completely unacceptable. Bakhurst will assure the committee that lessons have been learned, and decisive actions are being taken to rectify the situation.
Accompanying Bakhurst will be several members of the RTE Executives and the RTE Board, including Acting Deputy Director General Adrian Lynch, Director of Legal Paula Mullooly, Group Head of Sport Declan McBennett, Chief Financial Officer Richard Collins, and Head of Strategy and Commercial Compliance Conor Mullen. Additionally, staff representative on the board Robert Shortt will attend, while former director general Noel Curran will participate via video link. Unfortunately, former board chair Moya Doherty is unavailable to attend, as is former chief financial officer Breda O’Keeffe, who claimed to have nothing further to add.
As these revelations continue to unfold, many are left questioning the integrity and accountability of RTE. The organization’s reputation has been severely damaged, and the public demands answers. Bakhurst’s commitment to transparency and taking action are crucial steps towards rebuilding trust. However, the impact of this scandal must not overshadow the valuable work and contributions made by the majority of RTE employees and content creators.
Moving forward, it is important that RTE carries out a thorough review of its financial practices, ensuring full disclosure and accountability. The organization must be diligent in implementing measures to prevent such scandals from happening in the future. Transparency and ethical conduct should be at the forefront of RTE’s operations.
The Oireachtas committee will continue its inquiry into this scandal, seeking to uncover the full extent of the financial mismanagement and hold those responsible to account. The public will be watching closely, expecting transparency, and demanding that lessons truly are learned from this shameful and damaging episode.
It is essential that RTE takes this opportunity to rebuild trust with the public, demonstrating its commitment to ethical and responsible financial practices. The organization has a responsibility to its viewers and the taxpayers who fund it. Only through genuine transparency, accountability, and action can RTE begin to repair the damage caused by this scandal and ensure it does not happen again in the future.
