Government faces choice between future of RTÉ or Catherine Martin keeping her job, Dáil told

Following lengthy appearance at Oireachtas Media Committee, Minister Martin took part in 90-minute statements session on the embattled broadcaster

Kevin Bakhurst speaking to protesters outside RTÉ television studios in Dublin. Picture: Sam Boal/Collins Photos

The Government faces a choice between the future of RTÉ or Media Minister Catherine Martin keeping her job, the Dáil has been told.

Following Tuesday's lengthy appearance at the Oireachtas Media Committee, Ms Martin took part in a 90-minute statements session on the embattled broadcaster. 

Appearing live on Prime Time last week, Ms Martin said she had been misinformed on two occasions by former board chair Siún Ní Rallaghaigh about the board's involvement in approving exit packages for former RTÉ executives. Ms Ní Raghallaigh resigned from her position hours later, prompting opposition parties to question Ms Martin's handling of it.

During the statements, Labour TD Alan Kelly said that Ms Martin was a "hands-off minister" and that there was "an issue with timelines and facts" around the resignation. Mr Kelly, who was a minister between 2014 and 2016, said that there is "no way" his officials would not have known the details of exit packages at RTÉ. He said that either officials didn't know or didn't tell Ms Martin, the latter of which he said was "infinitely worse".

He said that Ms Martin was "nearly out the gap" but had "decided to put herself in the middle of this" and had created a situation where "it's you [Ms Martin] or the future of RTÉ".

RTÉ director general Kevin Bakhurst speaks to staff during a demonstration on the Donnybrook campus in Dublin. Picture: Cillian Sherlock/PA Wire

Ms Martin was also accused of "throwing a grenade" into RTÉ by "publicly humiliating" the former board chair by Sinn Féin's Imelda Munster, who said that Ms Martin's contention that she could not cancel last Thursday's appearance "holds no water".

Her party colleague Pearse Doherty said that Ms Martin had gone on RTÉ in "what was tantamount to a public humiliation" of a public servant, knowing that Ms Ní Raghallaigh had threatened to resign. He said that "nobody believes the guff" that Ms Martin did not anticipate a question on her confidence in the RTÉ board.

Social Democrats TD Catherine Murphy said that it was "astonishing" that there was no written record of the conversations between RTÉ's board and the Department. She said that Ms Martin lacked a "political nose" for potential controversies and had not requested any details from her officials.

People Before Profit's Richard Boyd Barrett said that the situation at RTÉ is "a shambles".

In her speech, Ms Martin said that she had become aware of RTÉ board involvement in Mr Collins' exit package last Wednesday in updated legal advice sought by RTÉ on whether the broadcaster could publish details of deals with former executives. She said that when she "pressed the matter" with Ms Ní Raghallaigh, she was told the former chair would consider her position if a letter was sent.

Meanwhile at a protest held by a union representing RTÉ staff, the National Union of Journalists said it remained "gravely concerned" at continued uncertainty surrounding the cash-strapped broadcaster.

Emma O Kelly, chairwoman of the NUJ Dublin broadcasting branch and RTÉ News education correspondent, said: "Legitimate concern over corporate governance failures and understandable anger at the lack of engagement by former senior executives should not be used to further delay decisions on the funding of public service broadcasting.

"Our call on the government is to act immediately to confirm a new model of funding for public service broadcasting, one which provides certainty to RTÉ staff, the independent production sector, and the public."

RTE staff during a protest at the national broadcaster's Donnybrook headquarters in Dublin. Picture: Cillian Sherlock/PA Wire

Director general of RTÉ Kevin Bakhurst told the protest that wanted to make RTÉ a better place to work.

"It's been a rough few weeks for lots of people in the organisation - I'm absolutely determined to make this a better organisation for you all to work in, a better organisations to deliver to audiences and to rebuild trust and pride in working here. That's my job and I'm going to get on with it.

Separately, Tánaiste Micheál Martin hopes that the Government will be able to appoint a new chair of the RTÉ board at its next Cabinet meeting on Tuesday.

Mr Martin said that the Media Minister will consult with the three coalition leaders over names for the new chair.

“I would hope that we would be in a position by next Tuesday to have a person identified and agreed as the next chairperson,” Mr Martin said.

The Tánaiste reiterated that, despite a delay in two key reports on RTÉs governance, the government plans to make a decision on reforming the licence fee before the summer recess.