RTÉ is under “huge pressure” and needs “all information laid out bare” in order for it to move on, according to the Justice Minister.

On The Anton Savage Show today, Helen McEntee said she was “frustrated” by recent revelations of exit packages given to former RTÉ executives that should have been made public “months ago”.

It comes as the national broadcaster's former Chief Financial Officer Breda O'Keeffe received an exit package worth €450,000 in 2020.

The exit package of her successor as CFO, Richard Collins,  also led to the resignation of RTÉ Chair Siún Ní Raghallaigh this week after she was publicly criticised by Media Minister Catherine Martin.

Controversies

Minister McEntee said these controversies should long have been dealt with.

“What’s frustrating is that these are revelations that keep coming out when there are prodding and when people are asked questions,” she said.

“All of this should have been laid bare months ago and it’s very difficult to move on when this keeps happening.”

Former chair of the board of RTÉ Siún Ní Raghallaigh, 13-7-23. Image: Leah Farrell / RollingNews.ie

Minister McEntee said RTÉ needs to get back to work.

“We need to make sure we have a functioning RTÉ that serves people as a strong public service broadcaster and whatever information helps to do that and gets us passed this point is needed,” she said.

“We can’t move past this point if we keep getting new revelations.

“We need to have all the information laid out bare within the law so that we can move on – I’m not saying we should go outside the law and break contracts.”

Under pressure

The broadcaster is under pressure, according to Minister McEntee.

“There are a lot of great people working in RTÉ,” she said.

“But this is putting huge pressure on [RTÉ] and really, it’s very difficult for anybody to move forward and think about how we are going to have a public service broadcaster that serves people to the best of its ability.

“With all of this coming out it is very difficult to do that.”

Minister McEntee said she can’t answer whether exit packages given to former RTÉ executives should have happened or not without knowing the details of their contracts.

Main image: Justice Minister Helen McEntee speaking at Government Buildings, 14-12-23. Image: Sam Boal / © RollingNews.ie