The shake-up at RTÉ has begun.
The broadcaster’s new director general (DG) Kevin Bakhurst is expected to swing the axe as Montrose is expected to undergo major changes in the middle of its most controversial period ever.
The new DG arrived on the Montrose campus today to meet colleagues, having emailed staff at 7am this morning with his views on fixing the crisis.
In the email Mr Bakhurst, who replaces Dee Forbes in the role, said the executive board will be replaced with a “temporary interim leadership”.
He said there was “too much at stake” as he started to introduce his changes.
All employees received an email at 7am this morning.
“In due course, there will be a new permanent leadership team. I want to underline that RTÉ, under my leadership and that of the re-constituted Interim Leadership Team, will be an organisation dedicated to working closely with you, to listening, to being open and transparent, to strictly adhering to revised and rigorous governance processes and procedures, to being accountable and to delivering a public service to be proud of,” he said.
“This will take time, but it will happen. It must. There is too much at stake. I will share details of the Interim Leadership Team later today. In advance of that, I can confirm that RTÉ will publish the salaries of the Executive/permanent Interim Leadership Team along with the earnings of RTÉ’s 10 highest paid presenters in our annual report every year, starting with Annual Report 2023.”
Mr Bakhurst said he will establish a register of interests for staff and contractors.
It comes amid public clamour for a means of tracking the perks enjoyed by some of its leading stars.
He also said that also from today all major financial decisions will be made by the entire interim leadership team, amid the controversy around the use of barter accounts in recent weeks.
“There can be no repeat of the siloed and at times secretive decision-making that have been at the root of the shameful events of the past weeks. As custodians of public money, our financial integrity must be on a par with our editorial integrity,” he said.
Mr Bakhurst said he has been appalled by the events at the broadcaster in recent weeks.
“I have been appalled by recent events and the impact it has had on the public perception of RTÉ, the impact on the trust the public places in us, and the impact it has had on you all. I look forward to working with Siún Ní Raghallaigh and the RTÉ Board as we collectively set out to rebuild trust in RTÉ, inside and outside, starting from today,” he said.
