Siún Ní Raghallaigh: 'My enforced dismissal' seemed designed 'to traduce my reputation'

“I cannot remain silent about the manner of my enforced dismissal which seemed designed to traduce my reputation,” Ms Ní Raghallaigh said in a withering statement issued on Monday.

Ms Ní Raghallaigh said typically, there would be regular contact between the chair of RTÉ and their line minister, but this had not happened during her tenure.

“The rule book on good governance may prescribe regular contact between Minister and Chair as the norm but, from day one, I had no choice but to accept the practice of regular contact between Chair and Secretary General."

Although the "practice worked well", it was not typical, she said.

“My experience over the past 15 months has been of a Minister actively taking a hands-off approach whilst delegating through her officials,” Ms Ní Raghallaigh said.

Ms Ní Raghallaigh resigned from her position in February after Ms Martin said she had been misinformed about her role in approving an exit package for former chief financial officer Richard Collins.

The minister "noted" Ms Ní Raghallaigh's statement, saying she outlined her and her department's position last week at an Oireachtas committee and in the Dáil.

Ms Ní Raghallaigh said that she did inform the Secretary General of the Department of Media, Katherine Licken, of the RTÉ board’s decision to provide an exit package to the former CFO of the broadcaster, Richard Collins.

“I do not claim to understand why an issue disposed of on October 10 2023 and subsequently discussed in length at the PAC should be revived in February 2024 but not in the intervening period,” she said.

“I do not claim that the severance package of the former CFO was in any way unimportant, but in my mind, it was historical as I, along with the DG, wrestled with many current challenges.” 

Alongside criticism of Ms Martin, Ms Ní Raghallaigh provides a timeline of how events played out before the minister took part in a Prime Time interview, where she failed to express confidence in the former chair.

She says that, while a letter was issued to her expressing disappointment, there had been “no invitation at any point” to either meet with or speak on the phone to Ms Martin.

Last week, Ms Martin told the Media Committee that she felt that she could no longer depend on the information she received from Ms Ní Raghallaigh.

She also said she was left “flabbergasted” after Ms Ní Raghallaigh indicated she would resign if a letter expressing disappointment was sent to her.

In her statement, however, Ms Ní Raghallaigh said that sending such a letter would make her position untenable as it “would reflect the minister expressing no confidence in me”.

“In response, it was said to me that the Minister wanted to get the letter out to me so that if she were asked any question on this matter during her Prime Time interview, she could say that she had sent this letter to me,” Ms Ní Raghallaigh said.

“It was now apparent that a plan was afoot, somehow involving the letter and the Prime Time appearance and that would not be changed by any input from RTÉ.

“It began to appear that the letter was as much being dictated by the upcoming Prime Time interview as anything surrounding my clarification about the Collins case.” 

Ms Ní Raghallaigh said that, following the Prime Time broadcast, she had “no option but to resign”.

“It seemed somewhat incredulous to me that the Minister cited 'leaking' when in fact there was just one media enquiry to which a response was due the next morning,” Ms Ní Raghallaigh added.

Ms Ní Raghallaigh also hit out at Ms Martin for failing to assist her to stop the fall in licence fee payments, saying she had refused to tell licence fee payers what to do.

The former chair also criticised the Media Minister for leaving her with multiple vacancies on the board for an extended period of time.

“I wrote to the Minster in early August 2023 to advise of one of those upcoming vacancies, bringing her attention to the urgent need for certain skillsets that would be essential for any new incoming board members, prioritising financial/accounting skills,” Ms Ní Raghallaigh said.

“Given the difficulties facing the organisation, I found that the reduction in the number of board members and in particular the lack of financial expertise within the Board lay heavily on me. However, no appointments were made.” 

She added that a lack of financial expertise was in addition to a vacancy in the CFO role, which was recently filled by Mari Hurley.

Responding, the minister said, "Any minister needs to rely on getting clear, timely and accurate information from the Chair of a State Body,” Ms Martin said.

“I would again like to put on record my thanks to the former Chair Siún Ní Raghallaigh for her dedication and commitment to RTÉ and public service broadcasting.” 

Ms Martin added that she would be seeking Government approval for a new chair and additional board members tomorrow.

“Upon appointment I will seek to meet the new Chair and the Director General in the coming days,” she adds.