Report into RTÉ’s Toy Show The Musical to be published

An examination of RTÉ’s Toy Show The Musical, which amassed losses of €2.2 million, is expected to be published later this morning.

The investigation, by auditing firm Grant Thornton, found there was no written record of the RTÉ Board ever granting approval for the musical.

It also identifies that there was no formal consideration of the project by the board until after a contract was signed with the venue – The Convention Centre in Dublin – for the musical.

Minister for Media Catherine Martin confirmed that her department had received a copy of the findings.

It is widely expected that the full report will be published later today.

Grant Thornton is understood to have found a lack of governance over the entire project, with no written approval being given by the RTÉ Board, that sponsorship may have been overstated, and a suggestion that the show would have struggled to break even.

Chair of the Oireachtas Media Committee Niamh Smyth said it may be the case that any current board members, who were in situ at the time, may be requested to answer questions.

One committee member, Fine Gael’s Brendan Griffin, told his parliamentary party last night that both RTÉ Director General Kevin Bakhurst and Chair of the RTÉ Board Siún Ní Raghallaigh should be “hauled” back in as relevant information about the crisis at the broadcaster was outstanding.

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar is understood to have told the same meeting that sacking the board might be the “easy” option but it is not a good option as members, once gone, are unaccountable.

Chair of the Dáil’s Public Accounts Committee Brian Stanley said his members would read the report and then decide if they would seek more information or call in RTÉ executives and board members.

Read more:
‘Significant concern’ expressed over Toy Show The Musical accounting