Catherine Martin has been 'exposed' as a minister who is 'completely out of her depth' on every issue, Sinn Féin Deputy Leader Pearse Doherty has said.
Former RTÉ Chair Siún Ní Raghallaigh last month resigned after Minister Martin refused to express confidence in her on live TV.
There are also calls for Minister Martin to correct Dáil statements she made about Ms Ní Raghallaigh.
In a lengthy statement last night, Ms Ní Raghallaigh accused Minister Martin of “actively taking a hands off approach” to the crisis at the broadcaster and trying to "traduce" her reputation.
Minister Catherine Martin outside Cabinet at Dublin Castle, 23-07-2020. Image: Sam Boal/RollingNewsShe said she had been left with no choice but to resign after what she described as an "enforced dismissal" at the hands of the Media Minister, which she said seemed designed to "traduce my reputation."
In response, Minister Martin said she outlined her and the Department's position regarding Ms Ní Raghallaigh's resignation during her appearance at the Oireachtas Media Committee last week.
Deputy Doherty told Newstalk Breakfast he believes the Minister is out of her depth.
"This is a Minister who is completely hands off," he said.
"Before even this crisis in RTÉ this was a Minister who kept on saying, 'That's not my responsibility' or 'That would be inappropriate of the Minister'.
"It's a person who is completely hands off and now we see Siún Ní Raghallaigh tell us in her letter, tell the committee in her letter, that she was a hands off Minister."
'This has to be cleared up'
Deputy Doherty said Minister Martin should come before the Dáil to answer questions over how many meetings she had with the Chair.
"She refused point blank, and the Government gave her cover last week, to be held accountable to the Dáil," he said.
"She went to the [Media] Committee but she wouldn't come before the Dáil and answer questions - this has to be cleared up.
"She can clear it up very, very simply.
"Her officials would have been in those meetings, she needs to now state how many meetings they had."
'She's been exposed'
Deputy Doherty accused Minister Martin of 'dumping' on Ms Ní Raghallaigh at the Media Committee.
"I think she's been exposed, I think she's been exposed for a Minister that completely doesn't have a handle on the crisis in RTÉ, cannot make a decision in relation to abolishing the TV licence," he said.
"I think she's been now exposed because...she's completely out of her depth, she's behind the curve on every issue.
"Support for the TV licence is dropping substantially and we're rolling into crisis after crisis in terms of RTÉ.
"This is a Minister behind the curve and she knows that".
He criticised the Minister for not moving on abolishing the TV licence despite having a report "on her desk for nearly three years now".
Deputy Doherty said his party will not be tabling a motion of no confidence in Minister Martin as there are "more pertinent issues" to deal with.
