![](//www.4rfv.com/images/no_image.jpg)
RT Opening Statement from Director-General, Kevin Bakhurst
Public Accounts Committee (12 October 2023)
Chair, Deputies, Senators - thank you for the invitation to be with you today. It has been a number of weeks since we met, and a lot has happened in that time. I hope the significant number of documents that we have provided to you have been helpful.
Recent events have marked a turning point in RT with regard to our standards of governance. We have seen how easily trust can be shaken, and we understand the urgency of the job to restore that trust. Since I took office in mid-July, both I and the new leadership team, working with staff across the organisation, have been working to do all that we can to expedite the urgent reforms required to restore confidence in RT .
I'm pleased to share with you some of the reforms that are already in hand.
We are working at pace to deliver RT 's strategic framework plan to Government by the end of the month. That outline plan will form the basis for consultation with the public, with public representatives, and with staff. It will set out the stall for a better RT : better for audiences, and better for Ireland.
As we move toward delivery of that outline strategy, you should know that the focus on immediate and long-lasting reform remains sharp. As you know, I have appointed a new interim leadership team. Key decisions now come to that full leadership team, not least decisions regarding top presenter contracts.
We are now operating with full transparency to the Board, and we are in the late stages of consultation on the new Register of Interests and Register of External Activities, both of which will be key to maintaining perceptions of integrity and impartiality. We have completed one staff survey, and have just launched another seeking views and suggestions as to how we could improve our overall governance standards.
We are managing our finances carefully and working to cut costs in the face of declining revenue from the TV Licence. Recent initiatives such as the freeze on recruitment of staff and stopping discretionary spending, alongside deferring some investment in digital and capital projects has saved several million Euro. And RT 'S commercial performance has been good. While cash reserves are solid for the short-term, clearly long-lasting reform of the broken funding system is urgently needed.
RT is committed to the many reviews in place. As has been supplied to the Committee, the two Grant Thornton reports regarding the misstatement of earnings to Ryan Tubridy are now concluded. A further two investigations into Toy Show the Musical, and the Voluntary Exit Schemes conducted by RT in 2019 and 2021, are nearing completion and it is hoped to conclude those reports by the end of this month. It is also hoped that the Mazars enquiry as to the usage of the Barter Account within RT (and any other related matter) will be finished by early November. Finally, the work of the other two Government appointed Expert Advisory committees (Governance and Culture, and HR and Contractors) have commenced and I have instructed all divisions that their work is to be given full and swift co-operation.
You will also have noted that Richard Collins has resigned as Chief Financial Officer. Due to various legal restrictions, I am not in a position to comment further on that matter, but I can assure you that I will be moving to advertise for the role of CFO as soon as possible. This will be a priority appointment for the permanent leadership team, alongside the appointment of a new Commercial Director.
We are grateful that it has been confirmed that RT will be receiving 16m from Budget 2024. This follows on from the recommendation made by the Future of Media Commission that interim funding would be required pending a proper reform of the licence fee, and we would extend thanks to the various members of the Houses of the Oireachtas who have publicly supported the importance of public service media being properly supported. It is critical that the funding of public service media in Ireland is put on a more stable footing. This not only affects RT , but also the independent sector, to which RT plays a very important role in sustaining and showcasing.
I would like to commend staff across RT for continuing to deliver high quality programmes and content to very large audiences. News coverage, investigative journalism, live sport such as the rugby world cup, record numbers using the RT Player and the highly successful new season of the Late Late Show with Patrick Kielty.
I am determined that RT will be transformed so that the public, Government and our partners can have full confidence in RT , and its management. We understand that in order to achieve that we need to share a compelling and credible plan as to how the organisation must change. As I said, I can confirm that RT hopes to provide an outline framework for strategic reform around the end of this month, with a commitment to delivering a more detailed and costed Statement of Strategy by early next year. A strategic change of this scale requires considerable levels of financial modelling and deliberation; among the elements being explored is the sale of more of the campus - an issue that I know several of you have expressed an interest in. We are awaiting more up-to-date valuations, but early indications are that a complete sale of the Donnybrook campus is unlikely, and the repurposing of the current site will not be without challenges and significant costs.
We must rebuild an RT that is trusted and enjoyed, one that's relevant and loved, and one that brings the country together for important national moments and events. Public service content, value for money, and trust, will be at the heart of a transformed RT , and I and my team are committed to the work required to deliver that
More from RTE
25/07/2024
RT has rights to broadcast the 2024 Olympic Games in the Republic of Ireland only. RT is not permitted to broadcast the 2024 Olympic Games in Northern Ireland...
24/07/2024
Commenting, Director-General of RT , Kevin Bakhurst said:
RT welcomes today&...
23/07/2024
AVERAGE AUDIENCE UP OVER 200,000 ON LAST YEAR'S FINAL
Clare's thrilling...
22/07/2024
Church received four separate complaints of childhood sexual abuse against Bisho...
19/07/2024
Cuirfidh RT craoladh ioml n i nGaeilge ar f il beo n taobhl ne ar na cluich c...
19/07/2024
Coverage of all 17 days across TV, Radio and Online following Team Ireland's...
15/07/2024
2FM has teamed up with the Road Safety Authority (RSA), the Gaelic Players Association, the FAI, the IRFU and a host of Irish musicians to record road safety me...
15/07/2024
RT PLAYER STREAMS MORE THAN TRIPLE FOR UEFA EURO 2024 VERSUS 2020 TOURNAMENT
9...
15/07/2024
Are you going to the Fleadh? RT will be there.
WATCH our promo
Wexford Town will host the Comhaltas Fleadh Cheoil na h ireann 2024 and, as traditional musici...
09/07/2024
RT News is pleased to announce the appointment of journalist, Shane Curraigh n, as Northwest Correspondent. Shane will be reporting and providing analysis ac...
04/07/2024
RT Investigates and the Sunday Independent announce major new joint investigati...
03/07/2024
RT will present comprehensive coverage of the UK General Election 2024 results on Thursday 4th and Friday 5th July across digital, television and radio platfor...
02/07/2024
RT is seeking expressions of interest in presenting single or double header roles on RTE 2fm.
RT 2FM's primary purpose is to provide relevant speech, mus...
02/07/2024
RT News is pleased to announce the appointment of Tommy Meskill as its new London Correspondent. Tommy has been a journalist with RT News for eight years, mos...
01/07/2024
Watch our promo: RT Supporting the Arts | What's on YouTube
This July, RT is delighted to support a fantastic array of events around the country. In Ga...
28/06/2024
Over 250 hours of Olympics coverage and over 100 hours of Paralympics coverage
Two new series on our Irish Olympians' journey
At an event in RT today, ...
28/06/2024
4.2 million streams last week with Player on track to break 2023 records
RT Pl...
27/06/2024
3.6million in 122 grants to benefit 1.1million children in every county in Irela...
25/06/2024
Former RT journalist Tommie Gorman has died at the age of 68, his family have announced. After 41 years, Tommie signed off from RT News for the final time in ...
25/06/2024
RT Raidi na Gaeltachta today announced the death of legendary sport broadcaste...
20/06/2024
First episode airs Thursday June 27 at 10:15pm and features Rhasidat Adeleke, Ge...
14/06/2024
Anna Geary and Sonia O'Sullivan go head-to-head for the first time
It's set to be one of the most competitive seasons to date on Ireland's Fittest ...
13/06/2024
All 51 games live and free-to-air
45 games live on RT 2 & RT Player plus 6 final group games on RT Player & RT News channel
RT Sport team includes new si...
12/06/2024
Hidden cameras capture horses being repeatedly hit and punched around the head
Images show a horse too weak to stand being prodded with a pitchfork
Major...
11/06/2024
RT took home Torcs in the current affairs, history, live music, single document...
10/06/2024
Hidden camera footage captures systematic abuse of horses
This Wednesday & Th...
07/06/2024
A NEW PODCAST SERIES FROM RT DOCUMENTARY ON ONE
FEATURING EXCLUSIVE ACCESS TO CARRIE JADE WILLIAMS
LISTEN TO TRAILER HERE
In 2021, a 32-year-old English wom...
06/06/2024
Prime Time's report tonight examines the failures of the Charities Regulator...
06/06/2024
RT has announced details of comprehensive elections results coverage across digital, television, and radio platforms beginning this weekend. After the public h...
04/06/2024
Watch live on RT One at 9:35pm and
available to stream on RT Player
With fo...
31/05/2024
RT 2FM is the home of music this summer, entertaining listeners across the day and night, with the best music, chat and interviews providing the soundtrack to ...
31/05/2024
RT Supporting the Arts: What's On this June
Watch our promo: RT Supporting the Arts | What's on YouTube
This June, RT is delighted to support Lim...
30/05/2024
RT has announced that Rachael English will be the new presenter of News at One on RT Radio 1 following the retirement of Bryan Dobson. After 14 years as part ...
29/05/2024
An action-packed weekend of live sport, including the Women's Euro 2025 Qualifier, the GAA Championship, URC Live and the Champions League Final
Catch al...
23/05/2024
RT 2FM today announced that Jennifer Zamperelli is to hang up the mic on her daily show.
Jennifer has presented her own show from 9-12pm weekdays on RT 2FM s...
23/05/2024
All candidates invited to debate live on the night
As part of RT 's extensi...
22/05/2024
RT lyric fm favourites Marty Whelan, Niall Carroll, Lorcan Murray, Simon Delaney and Evelyn Grant head to the Park
Liz Nolan offers an immersive podcast of cl...
21/05/2024
RT 2FM today announced that the Drive It with The 2 Johnnies is to come to an end on 31 May.
Head of RT 2Fm, Dan Healy said: After two very successful years...
21/05/2024
HOME IS WHERE THE STORY BEGINS
RT launches a series of Animated Shorts on the theme of Home
Watch: rte.ie/player/kids
Among these short animations is Envelo...
20/05/2024
As part of RT 's extensive coverage in the run up to the European Parliament...
17/05/2024
RT has today announced that Operation Transformation (OT) is to end after 17 seasons. As series come to an end each year, RT undertakes an editorial review to...
16/05/2024
RT is supporting Cruinni na n g with a nationwide campaign on television, radio, online and digital. For a full listing of all activities and information on h...
14/05/2024
Comedian PJ Gallagher turns mental health warrior in PJ Gallagher: Changing My M...
13/05/2024
RT Marks 20 Years as Title Sponsor of the Festival with special anniversary vid...
13/05/2024
New compelling eye-witness testimony of Stardust fire in RT documentary
Series filmed over three years includes interview with Charlie Bird filmed in 2021
N...
09/05/2024
RT Supporting the Arts: What's On this May
Watch our YouTube promo here
This May RT is delighted to support Dublin Dance Festival along with 20 other ar...
08/05/2024
RT has today announced that Doireann Garrihy has decided to leave RT 2FM after five years. Doireann will present her final 2FM Breakfast with Doireann, Donncha...
07/05/2024
RT has today welcomed the publication of three reports by the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sports and the Media, Catherine Martin TD: The Re...
06/05/2024
RT has announced details of its coverage across digital, TV and Radio in the ru...
01/05/2024
RT lyric fm turns 25!
Music station Where Life Sounds Better celebrates birthday with a gala concert
RT lyric fm celebrates 25 years today Wednesday, ...