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'Totally Unacceptable' Release Of Information As RTÉ Officials Head For Another Oireachtas Showdown

RTE officials are back before the Oireachtas Media Committee. Last night there were revelations abou...
Ben Finnegan
Ben Finnegan

12:32 PM - 5 Jul 2023



'Totally Unacceptable' Release...

News

'Totally Unacceptable' Release Of Information As RTÉ Officials Head For Another Oireachtas Showdown

Ben Finnegan
Ben Finnegan

12:32 PM - 5 Jul 2023



RTE officials are back before the Oireachtas Media Committee.

Last night there were revelations about more barter accounts - or slush funds.

It's Day 14 of the saga with the national broadcaster.

A selection of the transactions from one of the previously unknown barter accounts shows €23,000 spent on European Football Final tickets, along with a description included the note which read "not sure though".

€9,000 was spent on boxes at Lansdowne Road for concerts by Harry Styles, Westlife and The Eagles - not to mention thousands of euro spent on bringing clients out to lunch and personalised notebooks.

€5,000 was also spent on branded flip-flops for a summer party.

File Photo: RTE Ryan Tubridy Barter Payments Story.5/5/2010. Gerry Ryan wake. Gerry Ryan's producer Siobhan Hough (left), his agent/manager Noel Kelly (left) and RTE colleague Ryan Tubridy arrive at Gerry Ryan's family home in Clontarf for the broadcaster's wake. He will be buried tomorrow. Photo: Sasko Lazarov/RollingNews.ie

Earlier, Ryan Tubridy and his agent said they would go to Oireachtas Committees next week to answer questions.

Media Minister Catherine Martin said the way information has been coming out is "totally unacceptable".

And yet another report has been ordered - this one into Toy Show: The Musical, which made a loss of over €2 million.

In a statement, Catherine Martin said, "

"I have spoken to the Chair today and received an outline of the Board’s position, particularly around the deeply unsatisfactory nature in which information is being provided by the Executive.

"She informed me that the Board has now written to the Deputy Director General and the incoming Director General outlining that this is totally unacceptable, and that it has eroded their trust and confidence in the Executive. In this context, the Board has requested that swift action be taken. The Chair will speak more on this issue at the Media Committee today. 

"I absolutely understand that erosion of confidence and it is imperative that full clarity around these, and all issues, are forthcoming without any further delay. 

"I am bringing my meeting with the Chair, acting DG and incoming DG forward to tomorrow. I intend to have the forensic accountant in place next week given the urgency of these matters. "

 



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Barter Accounts RTE Tubridy

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