It’s not unexpected that three evaluations conducted on RTÉ’s work environment, governance, HR procedures, and the notorious barter account yield disappointing results. The reports collectively highlight a deeply concerning culture characterised by negligent, indifferent and uninterested management over many years. The situation came to a head with the undisclosed payments to star presenter Ryan Tubridy last year.
Will this conclude the debacle? It’s not a safe gamble.
Both the Government and RTÉ find the crisis hugely troublesome due to its continuous episodes and not just being one isolated instance. What initially seemed like a Tubridy payment scandal has spiralled into a chaotic mess that questions the very credibility of the national broadcaster, consuming and ending careers while embroiling politicians, specifically Minister for Media Catherine Martin. This situation intensified infighting amongst coalition parties over RTÉ’s future finances.
The intriguing series of subsequent events following last summer’s revelation alternatively mesmerised, annoyed, and possibly fed up the public. It seemed that all parties were attempting to bring an end to the chaos, but the narrative only became more convoluted. Public interest appears to have dwindled. “RTÉ no longer comes up at local and European election discussions, whereas it was a hot topic 10 months ago,” comments Fianna Fáil Senator Malcolm Byrne, a member of the Oireachtas media committee.
RTÉ controversies: The broadcaster allegedly misplaced records of three years’ transactions in the barter account according to reports.
All parties involved are cautiously optimistic that these reports signify the end of this damaging sequence of disclosures. However, only time will determine if this is indeed the case, as we have seen similar optimism in the past.
The process of recovery after the cessation of bleeding implies certain steps, although the final outlook remains ambiguous. Initially, RTÉ must explore, acknowledge, and put into action the findings of the reports. This could eventually turn into a prolonged formality, with new Director General Kevin Bakhurst focusing on organisational, cultural, and governance transformation. He will have to persuade the Government that his strategy is resulting in their anticipated outcomes and pledge to do more in the future, yet it’s unlikely that either party will drastically deviate from standards and methods revamp.
However, there lies a few complex challenges. RTÉ’s future might be as a more compact provider rooted mostly in news and contemporary affairs, sports, and a few other segments. This would make the broadcaster dependent on private sector, consequently turning RTÉ into more of a commissioner than a programme creator. Such a shift might suggest fewer employees in Montrose, with austerity for one person equating the next person’s subsistence. A lengthy, damaging dispute with the trade unions and workers over the feared job cuts would have significant political undertones in an election year.
[RTÉ issues: Broadcaster found to have ‘numerous compliance breaches’ in new report]
Public broadcasting service funding’s future course is distinctly political. The existing divisions are evident between those supporting total exchequer funding and those opposing it. Rumours suggest an emerging compromise with a transition plan towards a combined model of a reduced public service charge collected by the Revenue Commissioners and increased funding from the exchequer.
There are numerous questions that arise from these circumstances: Catherine Martin seemed ambivalent on the subject on Tuesday – what will be her advice? Specifically, what will the additional funds provide? Will it be used for programming, or for corporate RTÉ? How swiftly can the government act on this, and how fast do they intend to? Reducing the licence fee before the election maybe a smart political move, but what has to transpire before that? A decision is anticipated before the summer, but when will it be implemented? Also, how will the Revenue Commissioners interpret this new role, and what will be their opinion at Dublin Castle?
The €40 million financial aid for RTÉ, as designated in this year’s fiscal plan, will be fully provided once the outcomes of the assessments are acknowledged and implemented. Even with the decline of revenue stemming from the licence fee, presently, they are not confronted with a crisis that could threaten their existence. Nevertheless, the precise future structure of the broadcaster is still uncertain.