‘Act on Martin’

Minister to face 3hr interrogation at Oireachtas meeting this evening

THE Taoiseach and Tanaiste have been urged to “take action” and replace the Media Minister if she doesn’t adequately answer questions at an Oireachtas Committee.

Catherine Martin will face a blistering three-hour Oireachtas Media Committee meeting from 7pm tonight.

It will focus on the he said/ she said row that’s emerged over whether or not the Department of Media was told by Siun Ni Raghallaigh, former Chair of the RTE

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Board, that the Remuneration Committee had signed off on former Chief Financial Officer Richard Collins’ exit payment.

In her resignation statement, Ms Ni Raghallaigh stated she had “neglected to recollect this” fact when asked by Minister Martin. This is backed up by RTE and the Board who say former

Secretary General Katherine Licken had been informed. Minister Martin has insisted Ms Licken does not remember being told this and she had been “misinformed” by Ms Ni Raghallaigh.

Ahead of today’s appearance at the Committee, Labour’s media spokesperson Marie Sherlock has called on the Taoiseach Leo Varadkar and Tanaiste Micheal Martin to “take action”.

She also said Ms Martin must explain how her relationship with Ms Ni Raghallaigh broke down so quickly.

She told the Mirror: “I don’t know how much more the Minister is going to say other than her statement [on Friday].

“The Taoiseach and Tanaiste need to take action and actually decide who is the right person to oversee the future footing of RTE. I don’t have confidence Catherine Martin is capable of that.”

Niamh Smyth, Chair of the Media Committee, told the Irish Mirror now Ms Martin has had “breathing space” to talk to officials, she may be able to shed light on a range of issues.

It was unclear last night whether Ms Licken would attend the hearing.