Statement by Siún Ní Raghallaigh Chair of the RTÉ board on the publication of RTÉ’s Annual Report for 2022
Context is key in examining the RTÉ Annual Report for 2022.
To begin with, the Annual Report deals with the RTÉ of 2022. It does not deal with the changing RTÉ of 2023.
The Annual Report was finalised before the crises and turbulence of recent times and before the announcement of a series of organisational changes and reforms in RTÉ.
However, the Report does set out the significant and ongoing contribution of RTÉ staff and the Independent Production sector in producing diverse, quality programming for television, digital and radio platforms.
In keeping with previous years, and in line with its statutory obligations, RTÉ's Annual Report for 2022 was approved by the Board of RTÉ and sent to Minister Martin at the end of June this year.
With regard to the restatement of earnings for Mr. Tubridy which was made on 22 June 2023, this restatement had no impact on our audited financial statements. In relation to the Annual Report it is important to note the following:
- The two payments of €75,000 each, which were recorded in the Barter Account, were processed in the accounts as a charge of €115,000 each, being the grossed-up cost to the Barter Account when allowing for 35% commission.
- This total of €230,000 is included in the overall Operating costs (before depreciation, amortisation, gain on disposal of assets) of €339.3 million as shown in the Group Income Statement on page 115 of the Annual Report or in the Financial Statements menu above (Group Income Statement section).
- The overall operating costs number is further analysed in note 3 to the Accounts (page 131 of the Annual Report or in the Notes section of the Financial Statements menu above) and as the invoices were referenced as promotion costs and booked as such, the €230,000 is included in the Other third-party costs figure of €42.45 million.
For the avoidance of doubt, it should be noted that, subsequent to the completion of this report, Grant Thornton LLP established that the payments in question were not, in fact, promotion costs.
The Annual Report for 2022 represents a particular moment in time for RTÉ, a time when a different culture was prevalent.
But now we must deal with the legacy of this siloed and dysfunctional culture.
As an organisation we cannot shy away from the shortcomings and challenges that have been identified. Nor will we.
In the period since June 2023, we have moved swiftly to address a number of matters so that public trust can be restored in our national broadcaster.
Some of the actions we have taken include increased Board oversight of senior remuneration and the proposed introduction of a register of interests and register of external activities for certain staff and contractors. We are working to break down the old ineffective model and the poor governance which have been identified through an ongoing programme of reform and recovery for the organisation.
Furthermore, a new interim leadership team has been appointed by our new Director General, Kevin Bakhurst, and we are bringing an overall commitment to management accountability and transparency.
The Board has established two Oversight Committees to work with both Government Reviews, on governance and culture and in relation to contractor fees, HR and other matters.
We know that RTÉ has a long way to go in rebuilding our bond of trust with the public. However, I believe that working together across all strands of the organisation, we can do so.
The Board of RTÉ is absolutely committed to working with the Director-General, Kevin Bakhurst to make necessary changes and important decisions that will be vital as we seek to reestablish trust in RTÉ. We must, and we will.
Siún Ní Raghallaigh
Chair, Board of RTÉ
Today, tomorrow, together
RTÉ is Ireland’s national public service media organisation – on television, radio, online and mobile.
The 62nd Annual Report and Group Financial Statements for the 12 months ended 31 December 2022 presented to the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media in line with sections 109 and 110 of the Broadcasting Act 2009.
Is féidir leagan Gaeilge den Tuarascáil a íoslódáil ó www.rte.ie/annualreport
www.rte.ie/about/ie/policies-and-reports/annual-reports/
RTÉ provided 44 of the 50 most watched TV programmes in 2022, as audiences engaged with live sport, entertainment, trusted news, gripping factual programmes, Irish documentaries and local drama. The Late Late Toy Show retained pole position with over 1.5 million viewers while nine of the top ten most watched programmes were live free-to-air GAA, rugby and soccer matches The All-Ireland Senior Football Final (872,000) was the second most watched programme overall.
RTÉ Supporting the Arts supported 150 local, regional, community and national arts and cultural events across the island with a mix of airtime advertising supports, on television, radio, digital and social. This represents the highest annual figure in the history of the scheme – a testament to the diversity and vibrancy of the arts and cultural sector across Ireland as events were restored and audiences returned.
RTÉ was the home of women’s soccer in July, with the live broadcast of all 31 games of the UEFA Women’s Euro 2022 – a first for Irish prime-time television – continuing RTÉ’s commitment to women’s sport. RTÉ2 and RTÉ Player were also there as the Republic of Ireland beat Scotland in Glasgow in what was the biggest game in the history of Irish women’s football.
€6.8million in funds raised by the RTÉ Toy Show Appeal helped over 160 organisations across the island of Ireland working to make children’s lives better and enabled at least one project in every county on the island of Ireland.
RTÉ Raidió na Gaeltachta celebrated fifty years on air in April with a gala concert in the heart of the Gaeltacht, broadcast live on radio, with RTÉ Concert Orchestra and some of the country’s top traditional musicians including Altan, Iarla Ó Lionáird, Steve Cooney, Muireann Nic Amhlaoibh, Cór Chúil Aodha and many more. Highlights from the concert featured in a TV programme on RTÉ One.
Original Irish drama was back on RTÉ2 with a new series of Storyland, moving from online to RTÉ television for the first time, with three unique, original and exciting single dramas. In collaboration with Screen Ireland, RTÉ's Storyland commissions new scripts and brings them to your television screens, specifically to pave the way for tomorrow’s writers, directors and producers.
As part of making its overall operations more sustainable, RTÉ continued with the rollout of Project albert, a BAFTA-managed programme designed to support more sustainable programme making. A total of 111 RTÉ programmes achieved albert certification in 2022, including The Late Late Show, The Today Show, Prime Time, including three Prime Time Climate Specials, Ask Me Anything, The Main Stage, Cloch Le Carn, Scannal and Gafa.
Sport, drama, soaps and uniquely Irish content drove RTÉ Player growth across the board delivering a record-breaking 83,300,000 streams (+14% year-on-year) and 25,800,000 hours spent streaming (+33% versus 2021).
RTÉ was among a group of Ireland’s leading media organisations who came together in April to form an unprecedented coalition and launch a public fundraising campaign, Ireland for Ukraine. The campaign was supported by a €5 million donation from the Government of Ireland and raised more than €7 million. Through the enormous generosity and goodwill of the Irish people, the Late Late Show Irish Red Cross fundraising appeal for Ukraine in March raised over €3million of vital funds.
RTÉ: What We Did in 2022
RTÉ: What We
Made in 2022
Across our content and programming, through our services and people, RTÉ aims to champion Irish culture, our people, our island and our diversity.
