The scandal surrounding the governance of RTÉ has rumbled on this afternoon, with representatives from the national broadcaster continuing to field questions in front of the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Media.
This situation has rapidly developed in recent days, beginning with the breaking of the news that Ryan Tubridy had been receiving undeclared payments amounting to €345,000 on top of his publicly stated salary.
Since then, we have seen the resignation of Director General Dee Forbes and RTÉ representatives called into Government buildings to answer questions surrounding the running of the organisation and their use of taxpayer money.
Further revelations have come to light today, ones that are unlikely to go down well with the public.
RTÉ used huge amount of taxpayer money on rugby tickets
Fine Gael TD (and former Mayo footballer) Alan Dillon is part of the Oireachtas Committee and was given the opportunity to question the broadcaster's representatives over the use of the Barter account that had been used to pay some of the money received by Ryan Tubridy.
It would soon emerge that RTÉ had used taxpayer money to get clients for the Rugby World Cup. In total, they forked out €111,000 on travel and hotels for clients at the 2019 tournament in Japan.
As well as that, public monies funded a €138,000 IRFU season ticket that was also used to entertain clients, while €26,ooo was spent on Champions League final tickets in 2019.
€111,000 was spent from the RTÉ barter account in 2019 on travel and hotels to bring clients to the Rugby World Cup in Japan, according to RTÉ CFO Richard Collins, while 10-year IRFU tickets were also purchased for €138,000 | Follow live updates: https://t.co/oIpUCa2ORg pic.twitter.com/GQnF0Qfv3C
— RTÉ News (@rtenews) June 29, 2023
Christ.
Geraldine O'Leary says clients were booked to fly to the Rugby World Cup. She can't name who they are without their permission. Taxpayers money.
Ten year IRFU season tickets for €138,000. Taxpayers money.— Richard Chambers (@newschambers) June 29, 2023
RTE used the Barter Account to spend €138k on 10 year IRFU tickes, €111k on Rugby World Cup tickets for clients in 2019 and €26k on 2019 Champions League final tickets. #RtePAC
— Mark Tighe (@MarkLTighe) June 29, 2023
That type of outlay of taxpayer money on sporting events to entertain clients is extraordinary and is likely to result in even further distrust between the national broadcaster and the general public.
It is certainly not a good look given the current circumstances.
Unsurprisingly, the revelation has not gone down well.
Alan Dillon’s questions garnered some remarkable figures. https://t.co/umCEXfyiCj
— John Fogarty (@JohnFogartyIrl) June 29, 2023
and they charging yer grandad to watch the GAA and all https://t.co/1QYPkIhA5R
— Daithi (@daithigor) June 29, 2023
€138,000 on rugby tickets would be equivalent to over 860 TV Licences. https://t.co/czMyrtGQFq
— Cathal Ó hÉanna (@CathalOhEanna) June 29, 2023
At time where they are putting general gaa matches behind pay wall... https://t.co/UcaO3B9Q8v
— Keren O'Leary (@KerenLeary) June 29, 2023
This is grotesque 😭 https://t.co/gmegYYpyHf
— Post MoThóin (@sonofedge) June 29, 2023
Taxpayers money there. Stunning. https://t.co/41IGcgOG10
— Noel Rock (@NoelRock) June 29, 2023
https://t.co/CpIX7nAEiY pic.twitter.com/UHC8PhgdyU
— Ronan Coleman (@coleman_ronan) June 29, 2023
As these revelations continue to emerge, you get the sense that we are likely to hear further unsavoury facts in the near future.
One thing that is clear: there will be major changes coming at RTÉ in the near future.
SEE ALSO: Joe Brolly Launches Stinging Attack On RTÉ & GAA Over Use Of GAAGO
