Kevin Bakhurst, the new director-general of RTÉ, has announced the Irish national broadcaster’s executive board is being stood down following a controversy over undeclared payments.
In an email to staff, Mr Bakhurst said: “I am standing down the executive board today.
“It will be replaced with a temporary interim leadership team to continue running the organisation.
“In due course, there will be a new permanent leadership team.
“I want to underline that RTÉ, under my leadership and that of the re-constituted interim leadership team, will be an organisation dedicated to working closely with you, to listening, to being open and transparent, to strictly adhering to revised and rigorous governance processes and procedures, to being accountable and to delivering a public service to be proud of.
“This will take time, but it will happen.”
Mr Bakhurst said he was “appalled” by recent events at RTÉ.
In his email to staff, the new director-general said: “Like you, I have been appalled by recent events and the impact it has had on the public perception of RTE, the impact on the trust the public places in us, and the impact it has had on you all.
“I look forward to working with Siun Ni Raghallaigh and the RTÉ board as we collectively set out to rebuild trust in RTE, inside and outside, starting from today.
“I know that all of you are deeply upset and angry.
“RTE is full of talented and hard-working people who remain committed to delivering a vital public service to our audiences, and you have been let down by RTE management.
“I have heard many of your concerns already and I will continue to listen to what you have to say.”
As well as the replacement of the senior leadership team, Kevin Bakhurst announced three further measures on his first morning on the job as director-general of RTE.
“Change will be essential if we are to rebuild trust in public service broadcasting in Ireland and in RTÉ,” he said.
In respect of finances, Mr Bakhurst has announced that all significant decisions will now have to be agreed by the whole leadership team, with a record of discussions leading to the decisions being compiled.
It is 'time for action' at RTÉ, Incoming RTÉ Director General Kevin Bakhurst has said. Mr Bakhurst, who is due to take up the role tomorrow, is due to contact staff via email 'first thing in the morning' before informally meeting staff on site | Read more: https://t.co/bm0jrybZE7 pic.twitter.com/ehRtihhjRU
— RTÉ News (@rtenews) July 9, 2023
“There can be no repeat of the siloed and, at times, secretive decision-making that have been at the root of the shameful events of the past weeks. As custodians of public money, our financial integrity must be on a par with our editorial integrity,” he said.
Mr Bakhurst said he was also expediting the establishment of a register of interests for staff and contractors. In this regard, RTÉ managers will also be asked to provide clarity on any potential breaches of journalism or content guidelines.
The new director general said he would also oversee a “culture change” at the broadcaster. He said he was initiating a review of roles, grades, pay and gender equality. He also pledged to improve communications with staff and enhance their input in decision-making.
Director of strategy Rory Coveney said he had resigned with immediate effect in a statement on Sunday evening.
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Mr Coveney said he met with incoming director general Kevin Bakhurst in recent days, and wants to give him the space to create a “fresh lead team”.
“Having worked with Kevin before, I’ve absolute faith in him. He’s the right person to rebuild the national broadcaster. I wish him the very best,” he said.
Mr Bakhurst has thanked Mr Coveney for his contribution to public service media.
“His diligence, energy and insight were hugely appreciated by many across the organisation. I wish him the very best for the future,” he said.
The new director general is taking over as the Irish national broadcaster remains at the centre of a storm following revelations last month that it had under-reported the salary paid to star presenter Ryan Tubridy.
The furore around RTE’s failure to disclose 345,000 euros of additional payments to former Late Late Show host Tubridy between 2017 and 2022 has since widened.
There have been further disclosures about the broadcaster’s internal financial, accounting and governance practices and its expenditure on corporate hospitality for advertising clients.
The Irish government has already announced two separate external reviews of RTE and also moved to send in a forensic auditor to examine the broadcaster’s accounts.
Meanwhile, two parliamentary committees in Dublin are conducting their own examinations of the situation.
