Minister for Media Catherine Martin has said that the current RTÉ Board should remain in place “for now” to facilitate the day-to-day functioning of the organisation, following yesterday’s Grant Thornton report into Toy Show The Musical.
In a statement this morning, Ms Martin said the report “highlights serious failings in governance oversight, financial management and appropriate control procedures in relation to this project”.
A report into Toy Show the Musical found that the recording of the show’s sponsorship money was “not in line with generally accepted accounting practices”.
The Grant Thornton report found there was “no objective justification” for the way a figure of €75,000 was recorded which led to an overstating of sponsorship revenue.
The report stated that it found no evidence in the minutes of meetings of the Board of RTÉ recording the approval of Toy Show the Musical whether by way of the outcome of a vote, or a consensus reached.
Some directors said they did not receive documentation in advance of meetings and that oral presentations about the musical were presented as a “fait accompli” or as a “briefing”.
It makes reference to a ‘Combo Meeting’ where a selection of directors, external consultants and some member of the RTÉ Executive discussed Toy Show the Musical. However, the report notes that this was not a meeting of the Board of Directors of RTÉ.
The RTÉ Board is a body made up of 12 people that make policy for the broadcaster, while the Executive Board is a committee composed of senior management responsible for its day-to-day running.
Yesterday RTÉ Board Chair Siún Ní Raghallaigh also expressed confidence in members of the current RTÉ Board who sat on the board when corporate governance failings occurred in relation to Toy Show The Musical.
“These board members were there at the time, but I have every confidence in them.
“I want to assure everyone of the work that we have been doing to make sure that something like this never happens again, and I think we have done that,” she said.
More to follow…
