Labour Party say minister's position is 'untenable' following latest RTÉ revelations

Minister for the Media and Arts Catherine Martin speaking to reporters at Government Buildings after her meeting with RTE management on February 19. 

The Labour Party have said Media Minister Catherine Martin’s position is untenable following the latest RTÉ revelations.

In a fresh statement, the party’s media spokesperson, Senator Marie Sherlock said from the outset of the RTÉ crisis, Ms Martin has been on the backfoot.

She said: “In the context of multiple bail outs of RTÉ by the public, we now know for sure that the Minister failed to ask the most basic questions.

“She has presided over a most damaging period for the State broadcaster where public trust has been totally demolished.

“At the outset of this crisis, I was very concerned by the Minister’s failure to call for people to unequivocally pay their tv licences. This revenue stream has since dramatically reduced.

“From the former Chairperson’s statement last night, it appears that Minister Martin was in fact kept abreast of details of exit packages some former RTÉ executives received,” Ms Sherlock said.

The Labour Party have said Ms Ní Raghallaigh’s statement suggests that the Department has a written record of notification from the Board following the remuneration committee’s approval of exit packages.

Ms Sherlock said: “This must be published in full immediately.

“The Media Minister is the protector of RTÉ but crucially, the Minister should be the protector of the public purse.

“The Taoiseach and the Tánaiste must now reflect on the Media Minister’s handling of this whole debacle, and ask, is she the person to ensure that necessary reforms take place in RTÉ that will be crucial to its survival, and is she the person who can restore public trust in the State broadcaster?”