THE BOARD OF RTÉ says it carried out a candid and detailed exchange with the Minister for Communciations Pat Rabbitte, which came in the wake of the BAI’s report on RTÉ’s Mission to Prey programme which had libelled Fr Kevin Reynolds.
The minister had requested the meeting after the BAI published the report of its inquiry into the programme’s production.
Speaking after the meeting, Rabbitte said that no resignations had been sought from the board, and none were offered.
In a statement, RTÉ chairman Tom Savage said that the meeting was a “robust review of all of the issues which had come to light arising from the editorial failures in the RTÉ Current Affairs programme A Mission to Prey”.
“The RTÉ Board fully accepts the findings of the BAI Report into this matter. We have already taken action with the Director General and Executive to address all of its recommendations,” Savage said.
The chairman also said that all of the recommendations made in the BAI report and in a report by Prof John Horgan on RTÉ’s editorial processes will be implemented.
“If RTÉ news and content are to be recognised as of the highest standard, and if public trust is to be rebuilt, we need to look into the heart of what we do and how we do it,” Savage added.
Rabbitte has requested a written report from the board within one which which outlines the reforms the board has authorised. The board says this evening that the report will detail the remedial actions, their objectives and their completion dates.
The minister also called for the broadcaster to provide quarterly reports on its progress in implementing new editorial policies, procedures and training.
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