RTÉ admits paying Tubridy €345,000 more than declared

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Was absolutely no need to the politicians to throw praise at Ryan, no need for Ryan to thank them, their dogs etc for tuning in. Wasted valuable time. Too many repeating questions. Why couldn't they all meet together and draw up list of questions. Some intelligent questions. some absolute clowns

This is what RT's opening statement yesterday reminded me of 👇. His attempt at saying sorry for the hurt he caused his work colleagues was pure bullshit and part of the firefighting to save RT at all costs.

Mazars has been appointed by the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media as the forensic accountancy service to examine the accounts of RTÉ.

Catherine Martin is making the appointment under Section 109 of the Broadcasting Act, which enables her to appoint a person to examine the books or other financial records of RTÉ.

The department said that the accountancy firm will initially look into the organisation's barter account through which payments, which were not publicly declared by RTÉ, were made to broadcaster Ryan Tubridy.

It will also examine any other off-balance sheet accounts.

However, if the need arises the scope of Mazars' inquiries can be expanded further by the minister.

"The appointment of Mazars as forensic accountants is a very important step in getting to the facts in RTÉ and shedding further light on the issues which have surfaced in recent weeks," said the minister.

The move follows the earlier appointment of two expert advisory committees by the minister and it is expected that the forensic accountant will collaborate and share findings with these committees.

One committee is to look into the governance and culture of the organisation, while the other is to examine contractor fees, human resources and other matters.

The minister said this evening that Stephen Smith is to join the Expert Advisory Committee on Governance and Culture.

Mr Smith is a chartered accountant with over 25 years' experience of working at board level as an executive, non-executive, adviser and auditor with major public, private and charitable sector organisations.

He will join the previously announced committee members, who are chair Professor Niamh Brennan, Professor of Management at University College Dublin, and Dr Margaret Cullen, governance adviser to the Institute of Directors in Ireland.

While the minister also said that Liam Kelly is to join the Expert Advisory Committee on Contractor Fees, Human Resources and other matters.

Mr Kelly is a career civil servant and former Director General of the Workplace Relations Commission.

The other members of that committee who had previously been announced are chair Brendan McGinty who is a leading expert in people strategy and employee relation, as well as Patricia King, a former General Secretary of ICTU.

"These expert committees will oversee the independent root and branch examination which will play a key role in restoring trust in RTÉ," the minister said.

The department said the committee memberships are now complete and Minister Martin hopes to meet with them early next week.

The procurement of advisory services to support the reviews is currently out to tender and the department said they are expected to start work in August.

Right, But obiviously people do write letters.

I don't see why this such a hard thing to believe.

RT is a huge celberity in Ireland. If he deserves that or not is another discussion.

But a celeb "in trouble" getting "fan mail"

It's hardly beyond the realms of possibility is it?

Well, after recovering from that 6 hours yesterday here's my thoughts

RT will be back on RTE in some fashion. Bakhurst, the new DG (a good acquaintance of RT's) gave as much ahint of that as he could yesterday.

While I do not rate RT at all, I understand there are lots of listeners that like him and his stylee. I've even given him a thumbs up in the past while on the RT thread (about twice I think) and I have heard from at least three people I know who met him that he is a very nice man and that includes a brother who cannot stand him!

I do agree the focus should be on dismantling RTE because as suspected, it is rotten throughout it's management structures.

But, I have big concerns on what politicians will extract/impose outwardly or by the backdoor. I'm a firm believer that a PSB should not promote/propagandise on behalf of ANY govt agenda nor internal employee committee agendas nor activist journalists agendas nor so-called 'civic society' NGO agendas.

Basically, RT will be back in some form. RTE should be just a PSB - any commercial arm should be completely separate entity, not funded by tax, survive (if it can) by advertising and/or a paywall. Arts funding (with payback) for tv channel drama etc can go to the new RTEflix, VMTV and TG4

I think the letter was when he left the LLS but open to correction on that.

Correct

I wouldn't have though TD's would be writing to every witness invited to a PAC meeting discussing how they're family is feeling about them no.

Sounded like a personal letter from Griffin.

Regardless of where one lives I imagine it's very difficult when there's a massive media lynch mob out for you.

I wouldn't wish it on anyone.

It's also stupid to assume that if someone is 'on air' for 5 hours a week that they only work 5 hours.