Changes for broadcaster put forward
THE PAC Committee report released yesterday made 21 recommendations and these include:
■■ The Government bring RTE back under the statutory remit of the Comptroller and Auditor General.
■■It proposes that RTE ensures no side deals, akin to that agreed in addition to Ryan Tubridy’s 2020-2025 contract, are undertaken in relation to contracts for employees or contractors going forward.
■■The Committee urges that staff at RTE must comply with codes of professional bodies of which they are a member.
■■It recommends that all invoices issued by RTE be clearly and accurately labelled as to the goods and services in respect of which they are issued.
■■It wants RTE to disclose in its financial statements the activity and revenues flowing through the barter account during the financial year in question, commencing with its 2023 financial statements.
POLICY
■■It recommends that RTE develops a policy for its staff and contractors in relation to promotional work, and use of social media, and that RTE reports back to the Committee on this matter in June 2024.
■■It proposes that RTE publishes the salary received by each member of staff at the broadcaster earning more than €150,000 per annum in the broadcaster’s annual financial statements.
■■The Committee puts forward that RTE have in place a clear methodology in relation to how it enters into exit agreements with staff, and that such agreements are subject to Board oversight, with clear lines of communication to the Minister, which is recorded in writing.
■■It recommends that the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media supplies the Committee in
August 2024 with the total amount lost to it between July 2023 and end-june 2024 in non-payment of TV Licence fees.