Sony Pixel Power calrec Sony

Statement by Sin N Raghallaigh, Chair of the RT Board

25/01/2024

January 25th 2024

The Audit and Risk Committee (ARC) of the RT Board commissioned Grant Thornton to conduct an independent fact-finding review in relation to Toy Show The Musical, as part of an ongoing and thorough process in addressing issues around management, governance and culture in RT . The review is now complete, and the Report has been furnished to the ARC and to the RT Board.

You can view the report here.

It confirms a significant lapse in oversight of the project.

The Board acknowledged the serious deficiencies now highlighted in the Report at a Board meeting last July and has since taken the necessary steps to ensure there is no repeat of these failures.

The Report finds that Board approval was required for Toy Show the Musical, and it also finds that the formal approval of the Board was neither sought nor provided for.

The Report clearly illustrates that the Board was not kept appropriately informed about the project as it was being developed. External expert advice was ignored. Information was also withheld from the Board. Significant contracts were committed to without the knowledge or approval of the full Board.

The Executive should have been interrogated by the Board on the project, on an ongoing basis and in a much more rigorous fashion.

The commercial risks associated with an undertaking of this nature were grossly underestimated. The project was not appropriately stress tested.

The Report also highlights a failure in generally accepted accounting practices, in that sponsorship was not correctly presented to the Board and all costs were not properly captured and linked to the project.

Since this series of events, the relationship between the Board and the Executive has been redefined and governance structures have been reformed and strengthened.

Risk assessment is now central in all decision making at Interim Leadership Team level.

The Board now receives the minutes of all Interim Leadership Team meetings at its scheduled meetings.

A new formal approval process has been established for significant expenditure projects, which goes through both the Interim Leadership Team and the Board.

All submissions to the Board relating to expenditure approvals must now include a risk assessment and a business case.

The level above which Board authorisation is required has also been lowered to 1 million. This applies to sports rights, programme acquisitions, programme commissions and operating expenditure.

We are working with the two Government appointed Expert Advisory Committees on Governance and Culture and Contractor Fees, Human Resources and other matters which were announced in July and are anticipated to report in February. We are committed to continuously reviewing processes to ensure that they are in line with best practice.

As Chair of the RT Board I would like to apologise to the public and to the staff of RT . The Board is focused on driving the change necessary to fully restore confidence in the organisation, and to working with Government to establish a sustainable funding model that will ensure that RT can continue to deliver on its important public service media remit.

ENDS
LINK: https://about.rte.ie/2024/01/25/statement-by-siun-ni-raghallaigh-chair...
See more stories from rte

More from RTE

04/07/2025

Join RT Radio 1 for The Pitch, a new series exploring the heart of Ireland's GAA Clubs

The Pitch comes to RT Radio 1 airwaves this Sunday at 7pm. The Pitch is a brand...

01/07/2025

Teresa Smith Announced as Commissioning Editor for Factual Entertainment

RT has announced that Teresa Smith has been appointed Commissioning Editor with responsibility for Factual Entertainment following a public competition. This s...

01/07/2025

RT is Supporting 26 Arts and Cultural Events across Ireland this July

This July, RT is delighted to support Galway International Arts Festival, Earagail Arts Festival in Donegal, Belfast TradFest and 23 other arts and cultural ev...

30/06/2025

Yellowstone origin story 1923 starring Harrison Ford and Helen Mirren comes to RT One and RT Player

All 8 episodes of Season 1 of 1923 will be available on RT Player from Tuesday ...

26/06/2025

RT'S FINDING SAMANTHA TRUE-CRIME PODCAST SERIES OPTIONED AS A TV EXCLUSIVE

Keeper Pictures, the Dublin-based scripted production company whose credits include The Gone and Striking Out, has optioned the exclusive TV adaptation rights t...

26/06/2025

RT presents new documentary on the origin stories of three abandoned babies in 1960s Ireland

This July, RT presents The Phone Box Babies, a documentary revealing new insigh...

25/06/2025

Upfront with Katie Hannon

RT has confirmed its Monday night television series, Upfront with Katie Hannon has come to an end and will not be returning in September following three season...

24/06/2025

RT launches over 90 days of national and international Sport

Women's Euros, Women's Rugby World Cup, European Hockey Championships, GAA Championships, World Athletics Championships, Irish Open, Horse Racing and mu...

24/06/2025

RT's Summer Slate of Documentaries Showcases Unique Irish Stories and Explores Irish Life

RT has today announced details of its summer line-up of home-grown documentarie...

19/06/2025

Award winning comedy The Dry begins filming its final instalment for RT and ITVX

RT and ITV have today announced that filming is underway in Dublin on the third and final series of Element Pictures' award-winning 8 30' comedy drama ...

18/06/2025

RT AND COMMUNITY FOUNDATION IRELAND ANNOUNCE RT TOY SHOW APPEAL GRANT AWARDS 2025

To date the Toy Show Appeal has raised over 26 million since its inception in 2...

16/06/2025

Run With Ray in Cork, Waterford, Kilkenny, Drogheda and Dublin as The Ray D'Arcy Show hits the road

Run with Ray is back! RT Radio 1's The Ray D'Arcy Show hits the road th...

13/06/2025

RT Seeks Expressions of Interest for on-air presenting roles on RT Radio 1 and RT News & Current Affairs Output

In fulfilment of a recommendation by the Government's Expert Advisory Commit...

11/06/2025

Mercedes-Benz Ireland announced as the Car Partner of The Traitors Ireland

RT Commercial has today announced Mercedes-Benz Ireland as the car partner of The Traitors Ireland, coming to RT One and RT Player in the Autumn. Mercedes-B...

10/06/2025

Family of Resident featured in RT Investigates Nursing Home Documentary Speak Publicly for the First Time

Family described their shock and distress at seeing footage of their father bein...

06/06/2025

New RT series An Ghig Mhr pairs Irish musicians with up-and-coming talent

Monday 9 June, 8pm on RT One and RT Player Hip hop duo Tebi Rex, K la's R n n Snodaigh, John Spillane and Eve Belle among mentors Promo: An Ghig Mh ...

05/06/2025

New Drama Tall Tales & Murder commissioned for two series by RT and BBC

Stuart Carolan and Chris Addison team up on darkly comedic drama starring Ella Lily Hyland, Aidan Gillen, Phillipa Dunne and Packy Lee From top left to right: ...

04/06/2025

RT Investigates reveals unsafe care and undignified treatment inside Ireland's Nursing Homes

Experts condemn leading private nursing home care provided referring to instance...

04/06/2025

RT Investigates undercover documentary reveals unsafe care and undignified treatment inside Ireland's Nursing Homes

Experts condemn leading private nursing home care provided referring to instance...

03/06/2025

RT is Supporting 20 Arts and Cultural Events this June

This June, RT is delighted to support 20 arts and cultural events all over Ireland spanning art, theatre, film, writing and literature, multiple genres of musi...

03/06/2025

RT announces the appointment of David Crean as Head of Drama

RT is pleased to announce the appointment of David Crean as Head of Drama, following an external competition. After an earlier career as a director and a prod...

02/06/2025

RT Commercial has announced laya healthcare as the new sponsor of 2FM Breakfast with Carl, Roz & Aisling

RT Commercial has announced laya healthcare, as the new sponsor of 2FM Breakfas...

31/05/2025

RT confirms investigation on Ireland's Nursing Homes to air this week

RT Investigates: Inside Ireland's Nursing Homes | RT YouTube RT will broadcast an RT Investigates documentary with undercover footage relating to sta...

30/05/2025

Stolen Sister A new podcast series from RT Documentary on One

Stolen Sister | RT Radio Player YouTube Sisters of Elizabeth Plunkett, who was murdered by Ireland's first serial killers, speak for this first time i...

29/05/2025

Dragon Hearts - RT documentary follows cancer survivors united through dragon boat racing

Dragon Hearts- RT documentary follows cancer survivors united through the power...

29/05/2025

2FM Go Live at Major Music Festivals Across Summer 2025

2FM is hitting the road this summer, broadcasting live from Ireland's biggest music festivals, starting with Forbidden Fruit this June Bank Holiday weekend....

29/05/2025

Aistear an Amhrin RT series reveals fascinating stories behind Ireland's most popular songs

Aistear an Amhr in RT series reveals fascinating stories behind Ireland's ...

28/05/2025

RTjr unveils exciting summer line-up of homegrown content, backing world-class, award-winning Irish animation

This summer, RT , in collaboration with Ireland's vibrant independent produc...

28/05/2025

Super Garden 2025 Winner Revealed

Debbie Brophy has been crowned the winner of Super Garden 2025. The garden design challenge, now in its 16th series, has once again showcased the extraordinary ...

27/05/2025

RT appoints new Head of Podcasting

RT is pleased to announce the appointment of Hugh Ormond to the new role, Head of Podcasting, following an internal competition. In this pivotal role to the ...

27/05/2025

RT Opening Statement: Joint Oireachtas Committee

RT will meet with the Joint Oireachtas Committee for Arts, Media, Communications, Culture and Sport on Wednesday 28th May, 2025. The Committee identified a nu...

23/05/2025

RT Update: RT VEP 2025

In an email to RT staff this evening, RT Director General stated as follows: Dear colleagues, RT 's VEP 2025 is now closed. I can confirm that we receiv...

23/05/2025

RT Radio 1 presents The Prompt A new eight-part series showcasing fresh Irish writing, curated by Ireland's leading literary voices

Featuring guest writers Edel Coffey, Mike McCormack, Sin ad Moriarty, Dave Rudde...

22/05/2025

RT to Commission All Christian Worship Content from the Independent Sector

In line with the published New Direction strategy, RT has launched a commissioning process that will see all Christian Worship content on RT 's video platf...

22/05/2025

Tonight on RT Prime Time, the reality behind online negative masculinity

Prime Time speaks to Charleen Murphy, an influencer whose online harassment turned into a real-world attack Tonight, Prime Time hosts a special programme focus...

22/05/2025

RT Today show and Mercier Press announce the winner of new novelist competition

RT 's Today show, in conjunction with Ireland's oldest publishing house Mercier Press, have announced Ireland's newest published author. Rebecca M...

21/05/2025

RT appoints Eleanor O'Shaughnessy as Chief Risk and Compliance Officer

RT is pleased to announce the appointment of Eleanor O'Shaughnessy as Chief Risk and Compliance Officer (CRCO), following a public competition. Eleanor bri...

19/05/2025

RT publishes Register of External Activities for Q4 2024 (statistical summary)

RT is today publishing a statistical summary from the Register of External Activities for the fourth quarter of 2024. The RT Register of External Activities ...

18/05/2025

RT ALL-IRELAND DRAMA FESTIVAL WINNERS ANNOUNCED DURING GALA AWARDS STREAMED LIVE ON RTE.IE/CULTURE

Ballyduff Drama Group from Co. Waterford Scoops Top Award in 2025 RT All-Irelan...

16/05/2025

RT Live at Bord Bia Bloom 2025: Live shows, live music and chat, live RT Weather, and much more

Live RT Radio 1 shows with Louise Duffy, Countrywide and Mooney Goes Wild RT ...

15/05/2025

FAI and RT announce biggest ever broadcast agreement for Sports Direct Men's FAI Cup delivering 13 games over two years

The Football Association of Ireland and RT have today announced a new two-year ...

12/05/2025

Bernard Dunne explores the real stories behind sporting success in brand new RT Radio 1 series Dunne Talking

What is success? How is it achieved? And what does it really cost? These are the...

09/05/2025

RT Statement: Eurovision Song Contest 2025

Further to the comments from RT Director-General, Kevin Bakhurst on Wednesday 7th May included below in which he asked the EBU for a discussion on Israel&#...

09/05/2025

Tom Brady, Nadine Coyle, Joe Duffy and EMMY among guests on this week's Late Late Show season finale

Here is your host, Patrick Kielty! In the season finale of The Late Late Show, ...

09/05/2025

My Eurovision Party 2025 - join in on the fun with RT Kids and Marty Whelan avatar!

My Eurovision Party 2025 - join in on the fun with RT Kids! Eurovision launche...

08/05/2025

Joe Duffy hangs up his mic on Liveline as he confirms Retirement from RT after 37 Years

The Liveline is now open , said Joe Duffy earlier today, as he previewed this af...

08/05/2025

RT reveals first look at comedy drama The Walsh Sisters, based on novels of Marian Keyes

RT , in association with the BBC, Screen Ireland and Cineflix Rights has reveale...

07/05/2025

RT Announces Fergal O'Brien as new Business Correspondent

RT News is pleased to announce the appointment of RT journalist, Fergal O'Brien, as its new Business Correspondent. In his new role, Fergal will be repor...

06/05/2025

KLA to perform live on RT Radio 1's Arena with exclusive preview of new album, Raise the Road

Live from Studio 1 at 7pm, Tuesday May 6 Iconic trad-fusion group K LA will be ...