The sprawling, never-ending crisis at RTÉ has plunged to new depths this weekend with the resignation of its chair in what Sinn Féin said amounted to a “public sacking”.
But the omnishambles has also taken on a new dimension.
Not only is the broadcaster fundamentally weakened, the crisis is unleashing a contagion that is also threatening the Government.
This is due to the extraordinary intervention of Media Minister Catherine Martin which has drawn sharp criticism from the opposition.
The Minister has defended her decision to dramatically and publicly criticise former chair Siún Ní Raghallaigh on RTÉ’s Prime Time.
It is clear however that the choice of the language used (“misinformed” and “deeply disappointed”) along with the absence of an expression of confidence would leave Ms Ní Raghallaigh with no choice other than to resign.
But the departure has not been a clean one.
There is a public standoff between the Minister and RTÉ over the level of knowledge conveyed about the approval of the exit package for former chief financial officer Richard Collins.
This has muddied the waters and left the Minister herself facing questions on both the mode of the intervention and the accusation that she did not have her facts straight.
From early yesterday morning though, it was clear that Catherine Martin’s Cabinet colleagues were backing her.
This is important because her own position is undoubtedly in the crosshairs of the Opposition with their ire turned on the Minister far more than on RTÉ.
What’s clear is that the Coalition has no choice but to back the Minister.
Anything less than full backing could allow her to fall. This would destablise a Government which has been failing to draw a line under an eight-month crisis at RTÉ.
Moreover, the three party leaders appear to have given tacit approval to the intervention by Catherine Martin on Prime Time.
She told the media yesterday that she conveyed the situation to the coalition leaders on Thursday evening “in order to keep them fully informed”.
Labour however, has accused the Minister of summarily dismissing the chair and the party says the Minister now must go.
Sinn Féin’s Matt Carthy has accused her of a hands-off approach. “The Government has been on the backfoot throughout this, particularly Catherine Martin, who has always pointed the finger at someone else.”
The Social Democrats say the Minister has questions to answer about a “lack of curiosity” on her part about the deals underpinning the departures of senior RTÉ executives.
Questions have also been asked about the Minister’s judgement in rushing to a public denunciation rather than sorting out the issue privately.
Ms Martin staunchly defended her approach yesterday, insisting she must have facts and that the chair had twice given inaccurate answers to direct questions.
It is clear that she was also annoyed to find out that an exit package was given to RTÉ’s former head of strategy, Rory Coveney, when she was under the impression that it was a straightforward resignation.
Some have interpreted Thursday’s drastic move as an attempt by Ms Martin to show that she is getting to grips with RTÉ in the face of public and private criticism of her handling of the crisis.
She has been publicly denounced by the Opposition and privately by some colleagues for not managing to appear to be on top of the controversy.
This may have been the reason why she went in so hard on Thursday evening.
Where do things stand now?
The Government needs to back Catherine Martin who is on shaky ground.
But they also need a functioning RTÉ which is why they have expressed confidence in Director General Kevin Bakhurst.
To lose a second figurehead at the broadcaster would leave it rudderless and could put the Government in a very tricky position.
This was underlined by Ms Martin yesterday in her comments to reporters.
“I have to take a broader view and look at what is good for the organisation and its staff. I have confidence in Kevin to deliver reform and I believe he needs to stay in place.”
This may not be a wholehearted endorsement, and it is also clear that relations between RTÉ and its line Minister have reached a new low after months of controversy.
There’s a need by all sides to put a halt to the bloodletting and try to get on with the process of stabilising and reforming the broadcaster.
And while the Government has promised to reform the licence fee, that is politically impossible while RTÉ remains in a state of flux.
This was articulated by Finance Minister Michael McGrath this week when he said any decision would have to be made in a “period of calm”.
That calm seems a long way off.
