An independent “root and branch” investigation into RTÉ will take six months to complete, the Minister for Media has announced. 

Following the controversy surrounding the broadcaster’s hidden payments to Ryan Tubridy, the Cabinet has signed off on Catherine Martin’s plan for two separate and parallel reviews.

The first will focus on governance and culture and the second will investigate contractor fees, human resources and other matters.

Each review will be carried out by a different three-person Expert Advisory Committee and be supported by civil servants from the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media.

A forensic accountant will also be appointed to look at RTÉ's financial records and its intial focus will be on the barter account and all other off-balance sheet accounts.

“Ever since the first broadcast of its predecessor Raidió Éireann, RTÉ has provided a public space for the people of Ireland to speak to and of one another,” Minister Martin said.

“At its best, it has held up a mirror to Irish society, one that has demonstrated not only the best in our society but one that also revealed its injustices, both glaring and sometimes all too hidden.

“In doing so, RTÉ has been sustained not only by the tireless work of its staff over the years but also through the trust of the people.

“That trust has been shattered. The independent, root and branch examination of RTÉ I am announcing today is the beginning of our efforts to restore that trust.”

The Minister is also due to meet on Friday RTÉ’s incoming Director General Kevin Bakhurst and RTÉ Board Chair Siún Ní Raghallaigh to discuss how the station can restore “trust and confidence”.

Main image: Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media Catherine Martin. Photograph: Sam Boal / RollingNews.ie