RTÉ withholding contract documents 'because of legal and contractual obligations' - Bakhurst

The Director-General of RTÉ has hit back against claims that the national broadcaster has "refused" to provide requested documents to the Public Accounts Committee (PAC). 

According to PAC chairman, Brian Stanley, documents detailing some RTÉ executives' contractual agreements - including information on possible exit packages - were not provided by RTÉ despite being requested. 

Speaking to Morning Ireland, Stanley said, "There’s a number of documents that we didn’t get, very important ones that actually we didn’t get was – and I can confirm this to you – is the terms and conditions of the voluntary exit package for Geraldine O’Leary, the former head of commercial at RTE, and Breda O’Keeffe, the former chief financial officer, her exit package. We have been refused that.

"We have also been refused Dee Forbes’ contract, she’s the former director general who we haven’t had the opportunity to speak to her yet and we’re anxious to speak to her. 

"We didn’t get theirs and that’s very disappointing because (they’re) three people who have been very central to all of this." 

Director-General Kevin Bakhurst released a statement this afternoon (September 22) to address the issue, and said, "Where documents have not been provided, this is because of legal and contractual obligations which preclude RTÉ from providing personal information. We are not 'refusing' to provide them." 

According to Bakhurst, RTÉ is "fully cooperating" with Oireachtas committees and being "as thorough and transparent as possible" within what is permissible in law. 

He said, "RTÉ has provided the Public Accounts Committee with more than 160 documents requested, including one which contained over 500 emails relating to payments to Ryan Tubridy and a lengthy chronology of key events relating to Ryan Tubridy's last contract. 

"This follows the recent provision of more than 170 documents to the Joint Oireachtas Committee in advance of last week's meeting."

He continued: "I can confirm what we have previously said publicly which is that that there was no exit payment made to Dee Forbes on her resignation or to Geraldine O'Leary who left seven weeks early to take retirement. 

"Due to issues raised about voluntary exit payments to former RTÉ employees, including Breda O'Keeffe, I commissioned an independent Review of VEP Schemes (2017 and 2021)in August. This is being carried out by McCann Fitzgerald (Solicitors) and will be completed in the coming weeks.

"However, we need to note that every individual at every level in RTÉ has a legal right to confidentiality and sometimes there are other legal constraints relating to departures as I'm sure the Committee will recognise." 

Bakhurst also confirmed RTÉ is continuing to explore cost-cutting measures and "working hard to restore trust" in the organisation.