Dáil committee calls for Comptroller and Auditor General to oversee RTÉ

The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) is set to recommend RTÉ should be subjected to new financial controls as well as greater oversight around contracts and big exit packages.

The PAC are set to meet on Tuesday to finalise a report into recent events in RTÉ, with the report set to call for the State broadcaster to come under the remit of the Comptroller and Auditor General (C&AG).

According to the Irish Times, the report will recommend RTÉ should: implement a new written policy on negotiations with agents with all discussions minuted and documented; provide an annual statement about activity in the barter account; and reveal the exact amounts paid out in exit payments every year.

It comes as the controversy over large exit payments for departing executives looks set to take the political centre stage again this week.

Minister for Media Catherine Martin is due to appear before the Oireachtas media committee on Tuesday to answer questions on the forced resignation of RTÉ chair Siún Ní Raghallaigh.

Ms Martin accused Ms Ní Raghallaigh of providing misleading information about a confidential severance payment to former chief financial officer Richard Collins.

In an interview on RTÉ's Prime Time programme, Ms Martin twice refused to offer confidence in the chair, precipitating her resignation later that night.

Sinn Féin has also called for Ms Martin to answer questions on the controversy in the Dáil this week.

Members of the Oireachtas media committee also confirmed on Sunday they may also seek to reinvite Ms Ní Raghallaigh and RTÉ director general Kevin Bakhurst before the committee to answer detailed questions about all exit or severance packages approved in recent years.