BOARD OF RTÉ WELCOMES INITIATIVES BY NEW DIRECTOR GENERAL KEVIN BAKHURST

In a statement today, the Chair of the RTÉ Board, Siún Ní Raghallaigh, stated:

“Kevin Bakhurst officially begins as Director General of RTÉ today. As a Board, we look forward to working with him and his leadership team in forging a new future for this organisation.

The Board of RTÉ met with Mr. Bakhurst yesterday and he outlined his commitment to rebuilding trust in RTÉ, with the public, staff and public representatives.

In particular, he detailed the first four initial changes he is making:

• The replacement of the Executive Board with an interim leadership team;
• Changes in how the leadership team makes and accounts for significant decisions – with appropriate oversight by the RTÉ Board;
• A new Register of Interests; and
• A commitment to drive cultural change in the organisation.

We welcome these changes. They are the first steps in an ongoing process of change that will last for many months.

In particular we note the overall commitment to management accountability and transparency that underpins these, and future, actions.

RTÉ has a long way to go in rebuilding our bond of trust with the people.

However, I believe that, working together across all strands of the organisation, we can do so.

Our shared destination point is an RTÉ that is reformed, renewed, and robust.

I believe RTÉ can be renewed following an unflinching examination of what has come to light in recent weeks. We will reform RTÉ by putting in place new structures and procedures that will ensure those mistakes of the past can never occur again. And, in doing we can ensure an RTÉ that is robust in its unswerving commitment to public service broadcasting and rooted in a sustainable funding model.

Of course, we can only do this in concert with the hard working and committed staff of RTÉ who have been so badly let down by recent revelations. I believe that, by working together to a common aim, we can rebuild a better, stronger RTÉ. We as a Board are committed to playing our full part in this process of renewal.”