Media Minister Catherine Martin has said she “tried to keep the door open” for former RTÉ Chair Siún Ní Raghallaigh during last week's Prime Time interview.
She was speaking before an Oireachtas Media Committee this evening to account for her actions on the show, where she failed to confirm she had confidence in Ms Ní Raghallaigh – leading to the former RTÉ Chair dramatically resigning just hours later.
It happened as details of an exit package given to a former RTÉ CFO last October came to light, which Minister Martin said she wasn’t notified of – this has been refuted by Ms Ní Raghallaigh.
Speaking in the Oireachtas today, Minister Martin said she never expected to be asked the “no confidence” question on live TV last Thursday.
“It’s impossible for me to predict what questions I will be asked but I am always prepared for any questions," she said.
“In relation to Thursday night, I was pushed on a number of occasions.
“I was trying my best not to say I had no confidence; I was trying to keep the door open as much as possible until that meeting on the Friday.”
Backhurts confidence
Minister Martin also told the Media Committee she had confidence in RTÉ Director General Kevin Backhurst.
“The direct line of communication between the Minister for Media and RTÉ is the chair of the board,” she said.
“The Chair [Ms Ní Raghallaigh] provided me with inaccurate information – the DG [Backhurst] did not.
“The DG’s role is very distinct.”
The Media Minister was asked by Fianna Fáil Senator Shane Cassells whether she had a personal grudge with the former Chair, which she denied.
Main image: Media Minister Catherine Martin before the Oireachtas Media Committee this evening. Image: Oireachtas TV
