RTÉ DG Kevin Bakhurst says broadcaster should not be ‘brokering’ commercial deals with its contractors

His comments come as a part of the second Grant Thornton review, set up to go through the top 10 highest paid presenters and if their published salaries were correct, will be examined by the Dáil’s Public Accounts Committee (PAC).

The report shows salaries were correctly stated and properly accounted for the period 2010 to 2022 – apart from the mishaps with Ryan Turbidy’s salary.

In his opening statement to be delivered to the PAC tomorrow, Mr Bakhurst will call the payments scandal “one of the most shameful and damaging episodes in the organisation’s history”.

Interview with the new director general of RTÉ Kevin Bakhurst

He will say that some things are “beyond dispute” and this includes RTÉ’s role in commercial arrangements.

“RTÉ should not be brokering or facilitating commercial arrangements with its contractors. The level of fees in contracts of this nature are too high,” he will tell politicians.

He will say that negotiations with agents have “highlighted gaps in our processes and procedures”. This has caused “considerable harm”.

He will say “all significant decisions” will now be agreed by the interim leadership team. “A record of discussions leading to these decisions will be compiled,” he will tell politicians.

“We should have operated with greater transparency, and should have applied much higher standards of honesty and integrity in terms of its public statements.

Bláthnaid Ní Chofaigh speaks at RTÉ staff rally

“The public were misled, as were you as public representatives. That is completely unacceptable.”

Chair of the RTÉ Board, Siún Ní Raghallaigh, will tell the PAC that the “core purpose” of RTÉ making a statement on June 22, at the beginning of the scandal, was to “share facts with the public”.

This is despite Ryan Tubridy strongly criticising the statement made on that day and how neither he nor his agent Noel Kelly were consulted beforehand.

She will also praise the new DG and say that in his first few days he is “steadying the ship of RTÉ by taking swift action on a range of important matters”.