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NO RECORD EXISTS of what is now a key phonecall in the latest debacle between RTÉ and the Department of Media, Catherine Martin has said.
The disagreement over who knew what and when led to the resignation of RTÉ chair Siún Ní Raghallaigh overnight after Minister for Media Catherine Martin appeared on RTÉ’s Prime Time programme.
During the interview last night Martin said she was “misinformed” twice by Ní Raghallaigh about the RTÉ Board having no role in the sign-off of former chief financial officer Richard Collins’ exit package.
Ní Raghallaigh said that on Monday and Wednesday she failed to recollect this information, but that Martin’s team were informed of it in October of last year.
The RTÉ Board has said Ní Raghallaigh told the (now former) Secretary General of the Department of Media Katherine Licken in October that RTÉ’s remuneration committee had approved the exit package for Collins in a phonecall on 10 October.
It has also been revealed that Ní Raghallaigh sat on the remuneration committee.
However, Martin disputes this version of events and said this evening that she was told this week by the former Secretary General that she was merely informed in the phonecall that the exit process for Collins was complete – not that the package was approved.
When asked if the Department has a record of this key phonecall, the Minister said no note on it exists.
This is because “it wasn’t of significance” at the time, the Minister said.
Martin said the former Secretary General had no recollection of being told that the package was approved by the board’s remuneration committee.
“I do believe had she been told that it would have been something that would have been relayed to me because it was such significance, because never before had a board had a role in approving termination packages,” she said.
The phonecall is now central to the row between the Department and the public broadcaster, with Martin and RTÉ’s version of the events that led to Ní Raghallaigh’s resignation differing.
At the press conference outside Government Buildings this evening Martin said she is doing her best to manage “a very difficult situation”.
In a statement issued this evening the RTÉ board said it has requested a meeting with Minister Martin “at the earliest opportunity”.
In the statement the board expressed “great disappointment and regret” over the resignation of its chair Siún Ní Raghallaigh, saying she was put in a position where she had “no other option”.
Earlier, the RTÉ board this afternoon released the minutes of a meeting held by its remuneration committee to discuss Collins’ exit package on 9 October 2023.
The statement notes that Ní Raghallaigh and Director General Kevin Bakhurst were both at the remuneration committee meeting on 9 October.
Collins’ exit package was approved and the board said the next day, 10 October, Ní Raghallaigh contacted the Secretary General of the Department “directly by telephone and updated her about the meeting of the Remuneration Committee, and its outcome – i.e., that it approved an agreement with Richard Collins”.
When asked today if she was disappointed that Bakhurst did not inform her of the approval of the exit package, Martin said it was not his responsibility.
“My relationship as Minister for Media is with the chair of the board. And I never go into operational matters with the DG. And at these meetings I specifically addressed this to Siún,” she said.
“My direct line in order to establish facts is with the chair of the board and I got inaccurate information,” she added.
Full board approval not required
Today’s statement from RTÉ also notes that approval of the package by the full RTÉ board was not required, adding that the wider board was informed about the approval at its next meeting on 26 October.
The board’s statement notes that new terms of reference were introduced for the remuneration committee in September 2023.
Since then, all changes to executive pay and terms must be approved by the committee.
“This was introduced as part of a wide range of measures to strengthen controls and fully restore public trust in corporate governance at RTÉ. The Department was informed about these new terms of reference when they were introduced,” the board noted.
Aside from Ní Raghallaigh, the other members of the remuneration committee in 2023 were Anne O’Leary and Connor Murphy. Following Connor Murphy’s resignation, Aideen Howard became a member.
The minutes from 9 October state that Paula Mullooly, RTÉ Group Secretary; Eimear Cusack, Director of Human Resources; and two representatives from Arthur Cox, the firm giving legal advice to RTÉ, were also present at the meeting.
With reporting from Órla Ryan.
Every day thousands of innocent vegetables are murdered by vegetarians. Stop the murder, eat BACON
If God didn’t want us to eat animals then why did he make them out of meat?
You’ll find you’re made of meat too. Therefore….
He didn’t. They evolved :)
Bad statement there guru!! Humans are also made of meat!!!!!
For the love of God can a man not make a Simpsons quote around here anymore without being grilled!
That stupid Guru we are made of meat do we start eating each other.
Yes Von, bite me!
Arklow is cruel and frightening! ; P
I have no time for these animal rights “activists”… She achieved nothing except some abuse.. Lady, most of us love animals, won’t tolerate cruelty of any kind. I think those attending would know if these pigs were being mistreated.. Cop on to yourself
Pigs… Mmmmm….is there anything they can’t do?
how is this woman given airtime? she desperately craves attention, and her charity is based around a series of failed diets. the worst thing that happened was her name being mentioned by a councillor, because now it has given her recognition.
Yeah down with this sort of thing, Pigs have one purpose, bacon sandwiches.
Looks like you can add “cyberbullying” to any old story now. A rather flippant attitude to a serious concern.
Is she the pig whisperer or something?
Absolute skum these arklow people!!!! Making pigs run for their amusment!!! It’s abuse!!!! Next they’ll be making other animals race….. Who knows…. They would let children race if they had their way!!!!! Lowest form on earth!!!! If anything, this article highlights the plight of the pigs these days!!!!!!!
Amidst all the pain and suffering that goes on!!!! The struggle of an everyday man to make a wage to feed his family, the pig goes un noticed!!!!
For just €2 a month you can make sure that no pig races again! Call now, stop the suffering!!!!!
I’ll give you 2 euro Christopher, in the hope it will stop you abusing the humble exclamation mark.
Christopher…there is only one that’s suffering.
Me reading your sad comment.
But then again I am a person with a sunny disposition and had a good laugh at your elucidation.
Or donate a €2 pack of back rashers!!!!
for €2 I can also repair broken sarcasm detectors.
“You’re a hippie”
Haha!
The simplicity of modern philosophy.
Who won ?? had a sneaky fiver on a little beauty nicknamed rashers
This is so cruel.
I nearly choked on my bacon this morning when I read this. Absolutely shocking stuff.
Have these morons nothing better to do than tormenting pigs?
Tormenting? Really?
I’d pay to see Ms Fitzgerald & her supporters race instead…GWAN D PIGGIES…
spare a thought for rashers tierney !
Arklow people sure there great craic constantly communicate with each other. They have a range of different oinks, grunts and squeals which have distinct meanings. that’s why when a pig looks into the eyes of someone from Arklow they see a equal…………….. I’M ON THE PIGS SIDE ON THIS ONE
Ms. Fitz should get a job with Saatchi and Saatchi. Clever marketing ploy. She has done a wonderful job of promoting the Seabreeze event. I hear the pigs were squealing with delight. The event has been elevated to national importance. If the pigs do not object maybe next years event could have a donkey derby instead. The definitive biography of the winning pig will be launched at next years festival entitled “Pigs Tails Tales”, sure to be a best seller.
How can it be a race if they are being chased, is that not animal cruelty?
Michael Sands…
You are the epitome of a city slicker.
And sheep are chased every day of the week by dogs, where will this PC crap end? Next thing I suppose there’ll be a campaign to stop swatting flies.
Nope you are wrong there Antonov…
Yes but how can a race be a race if something is chased?
Far too much of this Animal Rights stuff interfering with sporting activities, I think? Next up they’ll be demanding crash helmets for racing pigeons!
‘You’re a fool. You’re a gobsh**e. You’re a pig yourself. The race is harmless. You’re a vegan. You’re a hippie.’ I would love to see this woman get “cyberbullied” properly so she understands what it actually is.
Sticks and stones…….
Pig Olympics….now that I’d pay to see
Why don’t they have 4 year olds walking on hot coals. Just like humans animals can feel and be frightened and i have always said if you can hurt an animal you can hurt a child.
Racing pigs learn bacon
Racing pigs lean bacon
squel like a pig boy
have your say