The RTÉ Board should have asked more questions about Toy Show the Musical the current board chairperson Siún Ní Raghallaigh will tell the Oireachtas Media Committee.
She will say that it is a source of regret for each member of the board that they did not rigorously interrogate the RTÉ Executive on an ongoing basis.
Ms Ní Raghallaigh will seek to assure politicians that the governance structures in RTÉ have changed to ensure that the mistakes of the past will not be repeated.
Ms Ní Raghallaigh will tell TDs and Senators that the Board was not appropriately informed about musical project as it was being developed, information was withheld from the Board and significant contracts were committed to without the knowledge or approval of the full Board.
She will state that risk assessment is now central to all decision making after Toy Show the Musical was not appropriately stress tested and external advice ignored.
The spending level above which Board approval is required has been lowered from €2 million to €1 million.
It applies to sports rights, programme acquisitions, programme commissions and operating expenditure.
There will also be a pledge to work with the Government to establish a sustainable funding model so that RTÉ can continue to deliver on its public service media remit.
RTÉ Director General Kevin Bakhurst will tell the committee that there is a commitment to correct the errors of the past and RTÉ will once again become an organisation the country can be proud of.
Evoking TD Mattie McGrath’s words from last summer when he asked RTÉ bosses who were they loyal to? Mr Bakhurst will say today that RTÉ has an unwavering commitment to serving its audience and the people of Ireland.
He will also thank the Oireachtas committees for their work and say that the important issues raised in the review of the RTÉ voluntary exit schemes may not have to light without them.
