Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has said "trust broke down" between Minister for Media Catherine Martin and former RTÉ Chair Siún Ní Raghallaigh, adding that he does not believe Ms Ní Raghallaigh's reputation should be tarnished by what has happened.Ms Martin is facing calls to answer questions in the Dáil over her handling of Ms Ní Raghallaigh's departure.Speaking on RTÉ's Morning Ireland, Mr Varadkar said he is "absolutely sure" the minister is willing to respond to Monday's statement from Ms Ní Raghallaigh.The former chair said in her statement that she could no longer remain silent on what she termed her "enforced dismissal", which she said "seemed designed to traduce" her reputation.Ms Ní Raghallaigh said in her experience over the last 15 months the Minister for Media had actively taken a hands-off approach and it was untrue that there were scheduled monthly meetings between herself and the minister as had been claimed.Fianna Fáil Senator Malcolm Byrne described this as concerning, while Social Democrats TD Catherine Murphy is requesting the Dáil Business Committee agrees a time for Ms Martin to face Dáil questions.Mr Varadkar said both Ms Martin and Ms Ní Raghallaigh were women who are in good standing, adding: "I don't believe that Siún Ní Raghallaigh’s reputation should be tarnished by all of this."He said the relationship broke down between the minister and the former RTÉ chair and that Ms Ní Raghallaigh "has admitted that she gave the wrong information to the minister"."Trust broke down. Minister Martin found herself in a position where she wasn't able to fully trust the information she was given by the former chair," he said."Sometimes these things happen, misunderstandings or just break down. It doesn't necessarily mean that anyone did anything wrong or that confidence, in my view."Asked about the future funding for RTÉ, the Taoiseach said there would "hopefully" be a decision in the next few weeks, adding there were also the reports to consider."There's the PAC report and I’m looking forward to receiving that from the chairman, Brian Stanley, and also some other reports on governance," he said."We should have all of those reports certainly by the end of March and that then allows us to press to make the decisions that need to be made [on] RTÉ funding and also to put RTÉ on a stable footing."He said: "The judgement call we'll have to make in the next couple of months, we set the target of summer recess to make this decision ... whether we go for Exchequer funding or a new form of media charge or household charge....but I also think we need to move beyond the idea that whatever income stream is created that it is just for RTÉ."Speaking on his way into Cabinet, Minister for Finance Michael McGrath said he has "no doubt" Minister Martin will want to respond and address some of the issues raised in Ms Ní Raghaillagh's statement.He said he has confidence in Minister Martin and said she has been dealing with a very difficult situation at RTÉ over the last eight or nine months.He said he believes she will find an opportunity to respond to the comments made by Ms Ní Raghaillagh.Minister McGrath added that the Government is trying to move forward with the appointment of the new RTÉ Chair.He said they are anxiously awaiting the final two reports into RTÉ that are due, so they have the "complete picture" and can make decisions on the future funding of the public service broadcaster.The Government has appointed Terence O'Rourke as the new Chair of the RTÉ Board.The Labour Party has called on Ms Martin to resign.Speaking at Leinster House, Aodhán Ó Ríordáin accused the minister of having no control over the situation at RTÉ.People Before Profit TD Richard Boyd Barrett called on Ms Martin to take questions in the Dáil, following Monday's statement from Ms Ní Raghallaigh.Asked if his party wanted her to resign, Mr Boyd Barrett said that it was not about any one individual, instead he had lost confidence in the entire Government's handling of the controversy and said he wants an election.
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