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RTÉ controversy takes the heat off politicians, but saga will roll into another weekend

Inside Politics: Minister for Media Catherine Martin to meet with senior RTÉ executives today as questions remain around governance at the station

Siún Ní Raghallaigh chair of RTÉ, at the Oireachtas media committee on Wednesday.

Jennifer Bray's face
Jennifer Bray
Thu Jul 6 2023 - 07:27

Good morning,

Today, all eyes will be on a meeting due to take place between Minister for Media Catherine Martin and senior RTÉ chiefs.

Ms Martin will meet with the chair of the board Siún Ní Raghallaigh, acting director general Adrian Lynch and incoming director general Kevin Bakhurst. It looks like the meeting will happen before lunch.

For yet another 24 hours, and undoubtedly well into the weekend, the controversy raging inside the national broadcaster will continue to dominate the agenda.

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It’s fair to say that all the political air has been sucked up by the scandal around misrepresented payments to Ryan Tubridy, and although many politicians are genuinely worried about the deepening crisis inside RTÉ, there are some who may be enjoying not having the spotlight shining upon them.

“Darragh O’Brien and Stephen Donnelly are probably laughing all the way to Toners pub. Nothing on housing or health for the summer,” quipped one Government source last night.

There will be a few things to watch out for today. Firstly, Ms Ní Raghallaigh told the Oireachtas Committee on Media on Wednesday that the board’s trust in the RTÉ Executive is being eroded and that she fears the emergence of more damaging revelations. So the first question will be: will there be any major changes to the power-structures in RTÉ after today’s meeting with the Minister?

Secondly, the question on everyone’s lips last night was: who is the RTÉ staff member who benefited from an unapproved deal that led to loan of car for five years? There were all kinds of names flying around political circles last night, and while the staff member may choose to keep their counsel, eventually it is highly likely that the name will emerge through a process of elimination alone.

Last - but absolutely not least - the Public Accounts Committee will meet privately to consider when to hold a hearing with Ryan Tubridy and his agent Noel Kelly. There was huge political pressure piled upon them to give their version of events to politicians, and yesterday morning they acquiesced. Both the PAC and the Media Committee will want a shot at this, and they won’t want to hang around. The potential for a hearing next week has not been ruled out. It is already shaping up to be a must-watch, as the duo’s solicitor wrote that they have “important information” and wish to meet.

These are far from the only outstanding questions in this saga, though.

In a detailed piece, Arthur Beesley outlines all the main issues at play, including around the controversial barter account that the infamous top-ups were paid from.

And who would have thought that Havaiana flip flops would become so important? Here is a piece detailing all the main spending in the Astus barter account. Spoiler: there were a lot.

Miriam Lord also looks at the On The Batter account, and coins a new phrase: Bombnishambles.

Women of Honour

There’s another very important meeting happening today, and that’s between Tánaiste Micheál Martin and The Women of Honour group.

As we report here today, the group has accused Mr Martin of ignoring victims by moving to “ram through flawed terms of reference” for an abuse inquiry.

They want to see a full tribunal of inquiry into abuses in the Defence Forces.

Ahead of their meeting the group said they had been notified this week by Mr Martin that he does not plan to make any significant changes to the terms of reference for an inquiry, as they had requested, and he plans to put his proposals to Government next Tuesday.

Expect to hear more about this developing story throughout the day, so keep an eye on irishtimes.com

Best Reads

Delaying climate action could make carbon budgets infeasible, writes Hannah Daly.

Allegations and counteraccusations continue to distract Ireland’s World Cup preparations, as Vera Pauw accused The Athletic of having an “agenda” against her.

Here’s The Irish Times view on housing plans near Finglas: an interesting blueprint.

BBC orders ‘content’ review of Stephen Nolan radio show in North amid nationalist boycott.

This is an interesting read, and something a little different: Cary Grant’s suave persona belied the poverty and trauma of his British childhood, writes Emma Brocks

Playbook

Dáil Éireann

Minister for Housing Darragh O’Brien takes questions on his brief at 9am, followed by questions to Minister for Social Protection Heather Humphreys at 10.30am.

Then it’s over to questions on policy at 12.34am before the Education (Inclusion of Persons) Bill 2023 is considered, and then statements on the National Parks and Wildlife Service.

After 4pm, there will be a motion on the proposed approval by Dáil Éireann of Ireland’s participation in four European Defence Agency Projects.

Topical Issues are scheduled for just after 6pm, and then there is a PBP Bill on the Film Tax Credit at 6.52pm which will be worth a look. The Dáil adjourns just after 8pm.

Read the full agenda here.

Seanad

A quiet day in the Seanad beckons.

Commencement Matters are up at 9.30am followed by the Order of Business an hour later. Then at 11.45am, the Energy (Windfall Gains in the Energy Sector) Bill is up.

Committees

Things also appear to be winding down in the committee rooms.

At 9.30am, the Select Committee on Housing, Local Government and Heritage will examine the Historic and Archaeological Heritage Bill 2023.

At the same time, the Joint Committee on Disability Matters will discuss increasing employment participation with representatives from the European Disability Forum amongst others.

The Public Accounts Committee meets also at 9.30am with representatives from Inland Fisheries Ireland.

Then at 1.30pm, the Joint Committee on Housing, Local Government and Heritage will discuss recent and future developments in An Bord Pleanála, with representatives from An Bord Pleanála.