The first words spoken on Teilifís Éireann sixty-three years ago were on the potential for the new service to present the good and the true, and to instil vigour and confidence in the people of Ireland. Since that time, public service broadcasting in Ireland has, when it is at its very best, fulfilled that potential.
RTÉ has created a public space for the people of Ireland to speak of and to one another – to speak of the good in our society and to speak the truth, even when that has been uncomfortable and challenging. During electoral periods, during the pandemic, during fundamental times of change and challenge in our nation, this service has provided a civic forum in which diverse voices can speak and be heard.
RTÉ has provided a space whose foundations rest on a trust built by the staff of public service broadcasters over generations, a trust that is not only one between a broadcaster and its audience, but between a national institution and the people of this country. This trust can only be sustained if the common good prevails over individual interest, and if public service broadcasters truly demonstrate ‘the character of a public service’, as set out and as they are required to do under our Broadcasting legislation.
That is why the revelations of over almost two weeks have been so shattering – they have been an affront to everything that public service broadcasting is meant to stand for. In failing to abide by the standards required of a public service broadcaster, RTÉ has lost the trust of the people and of its own staff. Our job as Government is to help rebuild that trust.
Public service broadcasting is too important to our democracy, our culture and our society to allow RTÉ to fail. Trust must be restored. RTÉ must restore the values and ideals on which it was founded. This can only be accomplished through a wide-ranging and comprehensive examination of the fundamental causes of the failures in RTÉ, one that also charts a clear path to prevent their recurrence.
For that reason, following the agreement of my Government colleagues this morning, I am publishing the terms of reference of 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.
A robust corporate governance framework and an open, transparent and accountable culture are all fundamental to the success of any public service organisation. We have seen what can happen in their absence. The first review will examine and make recommendations on the measures necessary to build stronger governance structures and to reform the organisational culture in RTÉ. This review will be overseen by Professor Niamh Brennan, Dr. Margaret Cullen and a third person who will be appointed in the coming days.
The second review will examine how external RTÉ contractors are engaged, the fees paid and a number of important HR matters, with a particular focus on gender equality, diversity and inclusion and including issues that have been raised with me by RTÉ staff representative bodies. This review will be overseen by Brendan McGinty, Patricia King and a third person who will be appointed in the coming days.
I expect to receive the final report within six months of the commencement of the examination, and interim reports will be submitted as required.
I should also say, as Oireachtas Committees are undertaking their own deliberations, I will, if necessary, extend the terms of reference of the examination to take account of any further revelations through those Committees or future Grant Thornton reports.
I will also invoke my powers under section 109(7)(a) of the Broadcasting Act to appoint a forensic accountant to examine the books or other records of account of RTÉ in respect of any financial year or other period. This will initially direct its focus on the barter account and address any other off-balance sheet accounts.
On Friday, I intend to meet the incoming Director-General and the Chair of the Board of RTÉ to discuss how RTÉ will co-operate with the preparation of reviews and the immediate next steps they will be taking on their part.
Nuair a chailltear muinín ar an mbealach seo, tá gníomh cinntitheach ag teastáil. Tá RTÉ ró-thábhachtach dár náisiún chun seasamh i leataoabh. The measures I have announced today are the beginning of the process of restoring trust in RTÉ and to ensuring that it, once again, shows that it has ‘character of a public service’. I am confident that it will be successful if all those involved show the dedication to the truth that is the mark of public service broadcasting at its best.
