The Oireachtas Public Accounts Committee (PAC) has received a “substantial” number of requested documents from RTÉ, but has yet to receive documents relating to exit packages and the contracts of a number of top RTÉ executives.
To date, the PAC has received over 160 RTÉ documents, including the chronology of events surrounding presenter Ryan Tubridy’s contract.
However, amid the broadcaster’s ongoing scandal relating to secret payments to top presenters, PAC chairman Brian Stanley has said it is “disappointing” that a number of documents relating to top RTÉ executives such as ex-Director General Dee Forbes have yet to be presented to the Committee.
Speaking on RTÉ’s Morning Ireland on Friday morning, Stanley said there is a number of “very important” documents that have been “refused.”
“There’s a number of documents we didn’t get, and actually the very important ones we didn’t get is the terms and conditions of the voluntary exit package for Geraldine O’Leary,” he said.
Notably, Geraldine O’Leary is the former Commercial Director of RTÉ.
Stanley went on to add that the exit package of former RTÉ Chief Financial Officer Breda O’Keeffe had been refused, as had the contract of Dee Forbes, and that the PAC was “anxious” to speak to Forbes.
A statement from RTÉ said the broadcaster “declines the request for a copy of the former Director General’s contract of employment on the basis that relevant details of the former Director General’s terms of employment have been provided already.”
They added: “If there is a particular question or issue or concern of the Committee that can only be assisted by reference to those terms of employment, RTÉ will reconsider and/or provide a copy of such terms, as necessary.”
The broadcaster further said that they would not supply O’Leary’s exit package, as RTÉ is “precluded from providing personal information because of legal and contractual obligations.”
Finally, RTÉ stated that it was “not in a position to comment on Breda O’Keeffe’s arrangements.”
Members of the RTÉ Executive and Board are set to return before the PAC in early October.