Full RTE government didn’t ‘sign off’ on exit package deal for finance chief
T
he voluntary redundancy package deal for former RTE chief monetary Officer Breda O’Keeffe was not signed off by each member of the broadcaster’s government, the Public Accounts Committee has been instructed.
Ms O’Keeffe left the organisation in 2020.
Current CFO Richard Collins mentioned he was on the chief board when the fee to his predecessor was made however not when it was agreed.
Mr Collins mentioned: “I knew nothing about that package, Breda never explained anything about it, the director-general (Dee Forbes) never did.”
This is a matter that I take very significantly
Interim deputy-director normal Adrian Lynch was additionally on the chief board on the time however mentioned he solely grew to become conscious she exited by way of the voluntary redundancy scheme final week.
Labour TD Alan Kelly mentioned all members of the chief workforce have been presupposed to log off on such packages.
Mr Lynch mentioned this was “absolutely factually correct”.
Asked by Mr Kelly how he couldn’t have signed off on the package deal, Mr Lynch mentioned: “It never came to us for sign off.”
New director-general Kevin Bakhurst mentioned the matter was being examined.
“This is an issue that I take very seriously because this is exactly about bringing significant decisions to the executive.”
Mr Kelly additionally mentioned that RTE wanted to research if there have been different situations of the voluntary redundancy scheme by which the put up was not suppressed – which he mentioned was the case for Ms O’Keeffe’s function.
Later within the committee, which sat for four-and-a-half hours, Mr Lynch interjected throughout a spot in questioning searching for to make a “point of clarification”.
Mr Lynch mentioned: “I received a text from the former CFO, just to say she would dispute the idea that nobody in the exec board knew…”
There was consternation within the chamber as Mr Lynch was interrupted to be instructed the committee couldn’t settle for second-hand proof.
Ms O’Keeffe had instructed the general public accounts committee she wouldn’t attend on Thursday as she had nothing additional so as to add to her contributions to the media committee final week.
Following admonishment from a number of members of the committee, Mr Lynch sought to defend his contribution concerning the textual content message.
“I received a text, whatever it was, 20 minutes ago.
“I thought it was very important having made a statement in front of the house that that should be correct with that information.
“I thought it was material.”