RTE to be brought under Comptroller and Auditor General as part of major reform

There have been repeated calls for the broadcaster to be examined by the Comptroller and Auditor General (C&AG) since it was rocked by a financial controversy in June 2023 when it was revealed former Late Late Show host Ryan Tubridy’s wages had been under declared by €345,000.

RTÉ’s finances will be fully assessed by the official State auditor under plans to be discussed by Cabinet this Tuesday morning.

There have been repeated calls for the broadcaster to be examined by the Comptroller and Auditor General (C&AG) since it was rocked by a financial controversy in June 2023 when it was revealed former Late Late Show host Ryan Tubridy’s wages had been under declared by €345,000.

The revelation led to a series of other scandals, including exuberant spending by executives. It also emerged the beleaguered broadcaster’s “Toy Show the Musical” production lost €2.2m.

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Media Minister Catherine Martin will bring plans to Cabinet this Tuesday morning to underpin further reforms and supports for public sector broadcasting.

This will include legislation assigning the C&AG as auditor of RTÉ, as well as measures to strengthen the authority, role and functions of the Boards of RTÉ and TG4 as part of the Broadcasting (Amendment) Bill.

The Bill will also aim to “increase transparency and value-for-money” by reforming the system of assessing the performance and funding of RTÉ and TG4 by giving Coimisiún naMeán greater authority to identify targets, assess performance, and hold RTÉ and TG4 to account for their performance in line with the recommendations of the Future of Media Commission.

Elsewhere, Health Minister Stephen Donnelly will seek Cabinet approval to amend Assisted Human Reproduction legislation.

Among the issues to be addressed in the amending bill will be measures to provide clarity for Irish residents/citizens undertaking donor-assisted human reproduction procedures abroad. It is intended that the legislation will set up a process to allow such couples to apply for a declaration of parentage in respect of a child born as a result of such a procedure.

The new legislation also intends to provide a pathway for Irish citizens domiciled abroad and who have undergone surrogacy in another jurisdiction to have their parentage recognised in Ireland.

Integration Minister Roderic O’Gorman, meanwhile, will ask Government to approve ratification of the Optional Protocol to the UN Convention on Rights of Persons with Disabilities.

Energy Minister Eamon Ryan will seek approval for legislation to allow for the payment of two energy credits of €125 each from as early as November 1 to over 2.26 million domestic electricity account holders.

The aim is that the first energy credit will be ready to go from November 1 2024 so people will benefit from the credit over the billing cycle of November and December 2024. The second energy credit will be paid from January 1 2025 and will be seen by householders over the January to February 2025 billing cycle.

Social Protection Minister Heather Humphreys will bring an update on when lump sum payments announced in Budget 2025 will be paid.

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