[Ireland] Broadcaster RTÉ criticised for ‘fictitious’ accounting

Ireland’s national broadcaster RTÉ recorded “fictitious” accounting transactions and operated with a “lack of trust” between its board and senior management, breakingnews.ie reports.

The claims were made in long-awaited expert reports, ordered by the Government and published on May 7.

More than 100 recommendations were reportedly made, together with an examination of the organisation’s use of off-balance sheet transactions.

Media Minister Catherine Martin said her department would withhold a second round of funding to RTÉ pending its implementation of the report’s recommendations.

In addition, the minister stated that the report of RTÉ’s barter account provides further evidence of “poor governance”.

In a press conference, Ms Martin said, “The (recommendations) will bring further transparency on the remuneration of top presenters in RTE, both on-air and off-air. The reviews I have published today make clear that the governance of RTÉ requires radical reform.

“While much of this work must be carried out by the RTÉ board and Leadership Team, the Review of Governance and Culture found that the legislative framework underpinning the governance of RTÉ contained in the Broadcasting Act needs fundamental reform.”

The minister continued, “Earlier today, the chair and director-general of RTÉ both gave me a clear commitment that RTÉ accepts the recommendations of the reviews in principle and will implement the recommendations of the Expert Advisory Committees.

“On foot of this, I intend, with the agreement of the Minister for Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform, to release the first tranche of €40 million in additional Exchequer resources allocated to RTÉ this year.

“The dispersal of the final tranche later this year will be subject to a satisfactory assessment of RTÉ’s updates on the implementation of the plan by my department and the further agreement of the Minister for Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform.”

In response to a question about timescales - with a general election due within the next year - Ms Martin reportedly said there would “definitely be a decision” on the funding model for RTÉ before the summer.

Source: breakingnews.ie

(Quotes via original reporting)

Ireland’s national broadcaster RTÉ recorded “fictitious” accounting transactions and operated with a “lack of trust” between its board and senior management, breakingnews.ie reports.

The claims were made in long-awaited expert reports, ordered by the Government and published on May 7.

More than 100 recommendations were reportedly made, together with an examination of the organisation’s use of off-balance sheet transactions.

Media Minister Catherine Martin said her department would withhold a second round of funding to RTÉ pending its implementation of the report’s recommendations.

In addition, the minister stated that the report of RTÉ’s barter account provides further evidence of “poor governance”.

In a press conference, Ms Martin said, “The (recommendations) will bring further transparency on the remuneration of top presenters in RTE, both on-air and off-air. The reviews I have published today make clear that the governance of RTÉ requires radical reform.

“While much of this work must be carried out by the RTÉ board and Leadership Team, the Review of Governance and Culture found that the legislative framework underpinning the governance of RTÉ contained in the Broadcasting Act needs fundamental reform.”

The minister continued, “Earlier today, the chair and director-general of RTÉ both gave me a clear commitment that RTÉ accepts the recommendations of the reviews in principle and will implement the recommendations of the Expert Advisory Committees.

“On foot of this, I intend, with the agreement of the Minister for Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform, to release the first tranche of €40 million in additional Exchequer resources allocated to RTÉ this year.

“The dispersal of the final tranche later this year will be subject to a satisfactory assessment of RTÉ’s updates on the implementation of the plan by my department and the further agreement of the Minister for Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform.”

In response to a question about timescales - with a general election due within the next year - Ms Martin reportedly said there would “definitely be a decision” on the funding model for RTÉ before the summer.

Source: breakingnews.ie

(Quotes via original reporting)