RTÉ to be brought under auspices of the Comptroller and Auditor General
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RTÉ is to be brought under the auspices of the Comptroller and Auditor General (C&AG) under plans agreed at Cabinet.
Media Minister Catherine Martin on Tuesday received government approval to publish the General Scheme of the Broadcasting (Amendment) Bill that will establish a new statutory framework around the provision of public service content.
A government statement said the bill aims to implement the recommendations made by the Expert Advisory Committee (EAC) on Governance and Culture in RTÉ published earlier this year.
This will include assigning the Comptroller and Auditor General as auditor of RTÉ, and measures to strengthen the authority, role, and functions of the boards of RTÉ and TG4.
Bringing the national broadcaster under the C&AG would mean the Dáil's Public Accounts Committee would receive audits of RTÉ.
The statement added that Coimisiún na Meán will be given "greater authority to identify targets, assess performance, and hold RTÉ and TG4 to account for their performance".
Ms Martin said she had been clear that additional public funding for RTÉ "requires reform, meaning stronger transparency, accountability and value-for-money".
"RTÉ have already committed to a significant programme of reform based on the recommendations of the Expert Advisory Committees I appointed last July," she added.
"These actions will be now be underpinned by legislative measures to reform the corporate governance of RTÉ and TG4. Critically, financial oversight of RTÉ will be strengthened by the appointment of the Comptroller and Auditor General as auditor of RTÉ."
Separately, the government has announced that Ireland men's football captain Seamus Coleman is to one of the recipients of the Presidential Distinguished Service Award for the Irish Abroad for 2024.
The Presidential Distinguished Service Award was established by the Government following the 2011 Global Irish Economic Forum as a means to recognise the contribution of members of the Irish diaspora and was first awarded in 2012.