Board set to seem on the Oireachtas Media Committee tomorrow
RTÉ’s board are set responsible administration on the broadcaster for “withholding data” about Toy Present the Musical throughout one other committee grilling tomorrow.
The board will even admit to failing to ask questions concerning the debacle, which price the licence charge payer €2.3m.
And TDs shall be instructed the board apologises for the intense deficiencies in governance in RTÉ.
However the finger of blame shall be firmly pointed at RTÉ administration for the musical flop.
Showing on the Oireachtas Media Committee, RTÉ board chair Siún Ní Raghallaigh will check with an investigation into the musical.
“The report clearly illustrates that the board was not saved appropriately knowledgeable concerning the venture because it was being developed. Info was withheld from the board. Vital contracts have been dedicated to with out the information or approval of the total Board.
“The business dangers related to an enterprise of this nature have been grossly underestimated. The venture was not appropriately stress examined. Exterior skilled recommendation was ignored,” her assertion to the committee says.
The chair says the report confirms a “vital lapse in oversight” of Toy Present The Musical.
The Grant Thornton report finds board approval was required for the musical and it additionally finds that the formal approval of the board was neither sought nor supplied for.
Ms Ní Raghallaigh says the report additionally highlights a failure in usually accepted accounting practices, in that sponsorship was not appropriately offered to the board and all prices weren’t correctly captured and linked to the venture.
“Nonetheless, additionally it is clear to me that the Government ought to have been interrogated by the Board on the venture, on an ongoing foundation and in a way more rigorous vogue.
“On this regard the Board acknowledge that they need to have requested extra questions, and it’s a supply of remorse for every member that they didn’t. We take collective duty for the Board’s duty on this debacle,” she says.