Martin takes a swipe at her Coalition colleagues over failed RTÉ licence fee reform
MEDIA Minister Catherine Martin has taken a swipe at her Coalition colleagues, saying successive governments have failed to reform the licence fee which has contributed to the RTÉ crisis.
The Green TD’s remarks came as she defended the performance of the current RTÉ board and its executive in light of Thursday’s report on the losses and lack of oversight on Toy Show The Musical.
Ms Martin has said the board should remain in place ‘for now’ to facilitate accountability before the Oireachtas and provide stability during a period of reform.
It comes after the publication of an independent report into Toy Show The Musical, which recorded more than €2.2million in losses after a single season in 2022.
Ms Martin said the Grant Thornton report into the controversy made for ‘grim reading’ and highlighted very serious failings in governance, oversight, risk assessment and ‘bizarre accounting’ at RTÉ.
She added: ‘It demonstrates complete dysfunctionality at the time between the executive and the board.’
Ms Martin said five current RTÉ board members who were in place at the time of the musical should remain. She said there ‘will be accountability’ for failings at the station as she awaits recommendations from two wide-ranging probes into RTÉ that were commissioned by the Government.
The minister also reiterated her calls for RTÉ to be funded directly from the Exchequer.
Ms Martin added: ‘I believe it should remain on the table for discussion. There are many different views on the table.’
She also said there could be a multi-annual budget set in place.
Ms Martin added: ‘What we’re determined to do, and I too as minister am determined to do, is take this tough decision because consecutive governments have failed here. And I think we need to look at the role that played in everything that has emerged since June.’
Taoiseach Leo Varadkar said he’s hopeful legislation can be put in place later this year regarding a new funding model for RTÉ, but refused to offer a view on whether that should involve Exchequer funding or a household charge.