RTE €3.6m write down proves more oversight is needed says Louth TD

Sinn Féin spokesperson on Media and Communications and Louth TD Joanna Byrne, has said that the RTE €3.6m write down on a failed IT system proves that more oversight is needed.

Teachta Byrne said: “Sinn Féin have since July 2023 been calling for RTÉ’s exemption from state audit to be removed, to allow the Comptroller and Auditor General to carry out audits as they currently do for TG4.

“We brought legislation forward in February last year in the form of the ‘Broadcasting (Oversight of RTÉ Accounts) (Amendment) Bill’ to make that a reality.  That bill will be reintroduced in this Dáil term.

“Sinn Féin wants to see all semi-states under the remit of the state auditor.  This is seen internationally as best practice.

“I will be seeking further clarification as to why so much money was wasted.  The explanations put forward by RTE such as lack of resources provided by those parties to the project, resource constraints within RTÉ, the build quality of the product in testing (which did not meet expectations and over-ambitious timelines), do not give much detail.

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“I am also frustrated by the lack of transparency surrounding the termination of a contract with one of the appointed suppliers, with RTÉ confirming that ‘this was the subject of a Settlement Agreement which is the subject of a confidentiality clause’.

“Why is this company allowed to perform poorly, yet still walk away with a settlement?

“As a member of both the Media Committee and the Public Accounts Committee I will be calling for RTE to appear before those committees as soon as they’re up and running.

“Taxpayers deserves better.”