RTE bosses to appear before Oireachtas Media Committee

"In the opening statement, Mr Bakhurst will tell the committee that the meeting is a "valuable opportunity to generate clarity on a range of important issues". "I would like to once again underscore RT&E's commitment to reform and the restoration of trust," the statement says. Mr Bakhurst is expected to outline how the issue involving the classification of Derek Mooney as a producer rather than presenter arose, including the timeline of events."

"He will tell the committee that the new 2025 top earner list shows the organisation is "serious about making improvements" and "rigour and thoroughness was front and centre of our deliberations". "As this outcome confirms, that may create challenges, especially in terms of surfacing legacy issues and practices. It is regrettable that a sincere attempt to be more open has come to be categorised as a scandal.""

"He is expected to tell the committee that the "complexity of RT&E's historical approach to contracts and employment can often appear opaque and confusing", but the organisation is "fiercely committed to the transparent reform of legacy matters". "Beyond that, I and the Leadership Team will continue to interrogate what we feel needs interrogation. We will correct what deserves correction. We have learned the hard way as regards public trust.""

"In his opening statement submitted to the committee in advance of the meeting, Mr Bakhurst has also pushed back against the description of the multi-annual commitment to €725m of secure funding for RT&E across three years as a "bailout". "Comprising of both licence fee, and ex"

RTÉ executives are scheduled to appear before the Oireachtas arts committee to answer further questions about a recent controversy at the national broadcaster. In an opening statement, Mr Bakhurst frames the meeting as a chance to generate clarity on important issues and underscores RTÉ’s commitment to reform and restoring trust. He is expected to explain how the classification of Derek Mooney as a producer rather than presenter arose, including the timeline. He will point to a new 2025 top earner list as evidence of seriousness about improvements and describes rigour and thoroughness as central. He acknowledges challenges in surfacing legacy issues and practices and says RTÉ is committed to transparent reform of historical contracts and employment approaches.

Read at Irish Independent