RTÉ News: 'Maximum transparency that is legally possible' needed from RTÉ - Varadkar

Story from RTÉ News:

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has said that the Government is looking for the "maximum transparency that is legally possible" from RTÉ when it comes to exit packages.

It came after RTÉ Director General Kevin Bakhurst said yesterday that he expects to have new legal advice "in the next couple of days" regarding the publication of details of exit packages, adding that RTÉ has to "respect the law".

On Monday Mr Bakhurst also told RTÉ's Drivetime that it was disclosed in July 2023 that the then RTÉ director of strategy Rory Coveney received an exit package when leaving the organisation. Back then Mr Bakhurst told reporters: "He didn't get a payment going out the door, but he is entitled, as other people are, to statutory level payments when they leave an organisation."

However, during yesterday's Drivetime interview, Mr Bakhurst said he "couldn't fire" Mr Coveney. "It was fair that RTÉ made a fair settlement for him to leave RTÉ," he said.

He added: "I said statutory at the time, I think what I meant is, the amount that is appropriate for the length of time he was here. Statutory is probably a technical term. He got less than the amount he would be entitled to if he went to the WRC."

Mr Bakhurst said he also stated to the Dáil Public Accounts Committee last year that he could not talk about individuals and that remains the legal advice.

Speaking on RTÉ's Six One News, Mr Varadkar said he would like to see full disclosure from RTÉ Director General Kevin Bakhurst regarding exit packages from the broadcaster.

"I understand he is seeking updated legal advice. The Government, the public want to know the facts, want transparency," he said.

He added: "We’re not going to ask anyone to break the law, certainly not, but to the extent that it’s possible within the law we would like to see full disclosure and transparency around these exit payments.

"How much, how were they calculated."

Mr Varadkar said the Government would also like clarity when it comes to redundancies.

"That redundancies were real redundancies in the sense that the post that was vacated was suppressed," he said.

Speaking earlier at the announcement of €800 million for cross-border projects, the Taoiseach said he has confidence that RTÉ is tackling the issues facing it.

He said the new RTÉ chair of the board, Siún Ní Raghallaigh, "is doing a very good job in difficult circumstances", and Mr Bakhurst is "doing his very best to stabilise the organisation, I think it's important that we give them our support".

Earlier, Tánaiste Micheál Martin questioned why confidentiality agreements were entered into between RTÉ and a number of senior executives who have since left the organisation.

Mr Martin said that "in any public sector area where taxpayers money is involved or public money is involved, as is in this case, there should be full transparency in exit packages".

Speaking as he arrived at Cabinet this morning, Mr Martin said he accepts "confidentiality agreements have been entered into and that is difficult".

However, he said, "maybe the question should be asked as to why they were entered into in the first place".

Asked about individuals involved, the Tánaiste said he was reluctant to personalise this to individuals, adding that "across many sectors people have built in exit packages when they leave".

Instead, he said: "I think it's the broader principle I'm focused on maybe rather than individuals."

There is one rule for well connected RTÉ executives who can walk off the job with big payments but a nurse or a teacher would get nothing if they did the same, the Sinn Féin Leader has told the Dáil.

During Leaders' Questions, Mary Lou McDonald asked when will there be consequences for those who breached the public trust and played fast and loose with taxpayers' money.

"Your Government are behind the curve on every twist and turn of this debacle," she told the Taoiseach.

She called for RTÉ to be brought back under the remit of the Comptroller and Auditor General and to release all details of exit payments to top executives.

In the Dáil, the Taoiseach also called for full clarity from RTÉ saying the drip feeding of information is damaging an organisation that plays a pivotal role in this democracy.

Mr Varadkar said the Government will look to possibly introducing legislation to make RTÉ more accountable if that is recommended by the expert advisory groups due to report soon, he said.

The Taoiseach also said that direct exchequer funding of RTÉ could potentially "undermine democracy" because he said he was looking across at someone who was currently suing RTÉ.

Earlier, Mr Bakhurst was accused of "stonewalling" over revealing the details of exit packages for senior RTÉ executives.

Speaking on RTÉ's Morning Ireland, Fianna Fáil TD Christopher O'Sullivan said politicians are not asking Mr Bakhurst to break the law, but said he is "stonewalling" in saying he cannot divulge the information.

Mr O'Sullivan, who is also a member of the Oireachtas Committee on Media, said he wants the RTÉ Director General to stop hiding behind "this veil of legal advice" in not sharing the information.

He called for more transparency, adding that the committee needs to "find out whether there are protections that can be offered to him within Dáil privilege".

© RTÉ 2024.