Terence O'Rourke to be named as new chair of RTÉ board

ESB chairman will become the new chairman of the national broadcaster in the wake of Siún Ní Raghallaigh's departure

Current ESB chairman Terence O’Rourke has been named as the new chairman of the RTÉ board. File Picture: Maxwells

The Government is set to approve the nomination of current ESB chairman Terence O’Rourke as the new chair of the RTÉ board, the Irish Examiner understands.

He will replace Siún Ní Raghallaigh, who resigned last month.

The three party leaders met tonight and accepted Media Minister Catherine Martin’s recommendation that Mr O’Rourke be appointed to the board.

The appointment itself will be confirmed in the morning, following a full Cabinet decision.

Mr O’Rourke, who is currently the chairman of ESB, previously was a senior member of KPMG’s global board and their executive team.

Two additional board members are also due to be appointed by the Cabinet tomorrow morning.

Earlier on Monday, Mr Varadkar said that the appointment of a new chair would be an “important step forward” in ensuring there is a fully functional board at the broadcaster.

“And what the Government wants to see, we want to see the final sets of reports, the reports on the governance of RTÉ, how we can make sure that it runs better and operates better into the future.

“We'd expect to have them in a matter of weeks and then be able to make a decision on future funding in the context,” he said.