The government is due to appoint a new chairman of RTE’s board of directors and two new board members on Tuesday, the Taoiseach confirmed.
Leo Varadkar said the appointments would be a step forward for the broadcaster.
Media Minister Catherine Martin will communicate the names to the cabinet on Tuesday morning.
Varadkar said that while it had been “difficult” to find other people to name amid the ongoing controversies, it was not “impossible. “
The appointments come amid the ongoing turmoil at RTE, in addition to the resignation of board member PJ Mathews last week, shortly after board chairman Siun Ni Raghallaigh resigned following highly criticized comments from the media minister.
Martin refused to explicitly trust Ni Raghallaigh in a live television appearance, saying she had been misinformed about the president’s role in approving an exit plan for an RTE executive.
Ms Ni Raghallaigh resigned a few hours later, leaving the board as chair at a critical time for RTE.
Varadkar said he expects the two final reports on RTE to be published within a few weeks.
“Minister Martin will bring to the cabinet the convocation of a new president and some new members of the board of directors,” Martin. Varadkar added.
We hope to get them in a few weeks and then make a decision on long-term funding.
Leo Varadkar
“This will be a step forward in ensuring the life of a fully operational RTE board of directors.
“The government needs to look at the final reporting circular, the reports on the governance of RTE and how we can make sure it works better and works better in the future.
“We hope to get them within a few weeks and then make a decision on long-term funding. “
The Fine Gael leader said he supported the idea of giving the Office of the Comptroller and Auditor General oversight of RTE’s finances.
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