RTÉ write-down a 'further big disappointment'
It was confirmed yesterday that the broadcaster had written down a figure of €3.6 million on a partly failed IT system, which was one of the projects funded from the proceeds of the sale of land at its Dublin site in 2017.
Speaking to RTÉ's Today with Claire Byrne, Minster Donohoe said it should have been made clear at the point in time at which the issue occurred.
"Secondly, millions of euro, for any of us, are still huge amounts of money, particularly when they're invested in projects that don't actually then happen in the way that was intended."
The Minister said it is important that Minister Patrick O'Donovan continues with his work to ensure he, his department and the public are aware of these issues, and for the reform agenda in RTÉ to be completed.
He said State funding for layoffs at RTÉ has been made available "in recognition of the fundamental importance of public broadcasting to the health of our society and democracy".
"For me, a key issue here is also in relation to the timing of disclosure. When issues like this happen, you're always better off, when the facts are clear, making them available in a timely way as opposed to happening later, like this has happened," he said.
"That is why it is a further disappointment, but it's also why Patrick O'Donovan is right to be doing this work fully understand the scale of these issues."
The Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Peter Burke, said it's his understanding that Minister Patrick O'Donovan has sought a review of all projects worth more than half a million euro over the last five years.
He said said the minister met with RTÉ last month and RTÉ is due to come back to him with more information.
"It's important to let Minister Patrick O'Donovan resolve this issue and deal with it," he said.
RTÉ terminated the contract with the one of the suppliers as a result of the issues that arose.
The broadcaster said that "this was the subject of a Settlement Agreement which is the subject of a confidentiality clause".
In August 2022, the project restarted following a phased approach and the finance system went live in March 2023.
"RTÉ did not ultimately proceed with the HR modules," the broadcaster confirmed.
The details of the write-down were first published by The Currency.
In the article in The Currency, it is stated that former RTÉ board member Ian Kehoe was not involved in the editing of the story and did not view the article prior to its publication.
Mr Kehoe, who is the Executive Editor of The Currency, was on the board of RTÉ from October 2018 to October 2023. He was a member of the Audit and Risk Committee of the board.
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