Siún Ní Raghallaigh resigns as chair of RTÉ Board

Mr Bakhurst added: "Siún has been an excellent Chair and a great support to me throughout an incredibly challenging time for RTÉ".

Ms Martin on Thursday told RTÉ’s Prime Time that she sought several assurances from Ms Ní Raghallaigh that the board had no role in approving exit packages.

However, she said on Thursday, it was revealed that the board approved Mr Collins exit package through its remuneration committee.

Ms Martin said she had been “misinformed” about the matter and that she had written to Ms Ní Raghallaigh over the matter.

Mr Bakhurst's statement paid tribute to the departing chair.

"Without Siún’s experience, insight, guidance and optimism, beginning the process of meaningfully transforming RTÉ would have been a bigger challenge. Her integrity, hard work, commitment to public service and her appreciation of the important work you all do in serving audiences, despite many challenges, made her a valuable ally.

"Siún believed in RTÉ and its future and she will be sorely missed."

The Director General also moved to assure the Government that reform is happening at the embattled broadcaster.

"I’d like to reassure you, our partners and our audiences that I and my Interim Leadership Team remain committed to RTÉ and to continuing to drive the necessary change to secure the future of this organisation and transform it into a national public service media organisation we can all be proud of."

In a lengthy statement, Ms Ní Raghallaigh said she had "neglected to recollect" the agreement.

"I applied for the role of Chair of RTÉ because I believe strongly in the importance of public service media.

"Since taking up the role of Chair of the RTÉ Board in December 2022, I have worked hard with my Board colleagues, and the Leadership Team. Our priority at all times has been on reforming the organisation, in order to secure its future.

"However, it is abundantly clear from statements today, and in particular last night’s Primetime broadcast, that I no longer have the confidence of the Minister in my role as Chair of the Board of RTÉ and that, as such, my position is no longer tenable.

"This evening, after consultation with the Board and Director General Kevin Bakhurst, I have decided to resign from my position."

The outgoing chair added that all changes to executive pay must go through the Remuneration Committee.

"Under the new terms of reference of the Remuneration Committee of the RTÉ Board, all changes to executive pay and terms must be approved by committee. This was introduced as part of a wide range of measures to strengthen controls and fully restore public trust in corporate governance at RTÉ.

"Kevin Bakhurst brought the exit of Rory Coveney from RTÉ (announced on Sunday 9th July) to my attention, while the exit of Richard Collins was brought to and approved by the Remuneration Committee of the Board of RTÉ on October 9th 2023.

"I informed the Department about the process which led to Richard’s departure from RTÉ, on October 10th, the day after it was approved at the Remuneration Committee."

Ms Ní Raghallaigh also outlined her meetings with Ms Martin.

"I met with the Minister and her officials, with the Director General, on two occasions for more than three hours this week, dealing with multiple questions across a wide range of issues. I was asked if the Board knew about the exit packages for Rory Coveney and Richard Collins. I said that I was aware of them, but they had not come before the full Board. However, I neglected to recollect that Richard Collin’s exit package did go before the Remuneration Committee. This was not an intentional misrepresentation, and I subsequently contacted the Department to clarify the details and remind them that I had previously appraised them of the matter in October.

"Serving as Chair of the RTÉ Board is a privilege which requires the confidence of the Minister. It is abundantly clear that I no longer do. My resignation is a source of sadness to me, but it is unavoidable.

"There is a very urgent need for the funding model of RTÉ to be restored and for the transformation process to continue apace. I do not want this matter to distract from that. That must remain our unswerving collective objective."

Ms Martin acknowledged Ms Ní Raghallaigh's resignation as Chair of the RTÉ Board.

“I wish to thank Siún Ní Raghallaigh for her service as Chair of the Board of RTÉ at a time of unprecedented crisis at the national broadcaster. Her contribution to the process of reform and transformation underway in the organisation has been hugely significant; and her hard work and commitment to public service broadcasting must be acknowledged.” 

Ms Martin also commented on the "critical time" for the public service broadcaster, adding: "it is imperative that we continue the important process of restoring trust in the organisation"

"As Ms Ní Raghallaigh stated, there is an urgent need for the transformation process to continue and a sustainable funding model put in place – I am deeply committed to this," she said.

Irish Secretary of the National Union of Journalists Séamus Dooley described Ms Ní Raghallaigh’s resignation as a “further blow” to the staff in RTÉ.

“The last thing needed in RTÉ is another crisis,” he said.

He said the latest controversy is a twist in an ongoing saga which has “gravely damaged” the morale of staff within the public service broadcaster.

“In my dealings with Siún Ní Raghallaigh, I found her to be a person of integrity, collaborative, sensitive to the concerns of staff and committed to public service,” Mr Dooley added.

Mr Dooley said the “ongoing failure” of the Irish government to reform the funding of public service broadcasting in Ireland has contributed to the crisis in RTÉ.

“The latest developments should not distract from this priority,” he added.