PAC seeks more information from RTÉ on Gilroy appointment

Updated / Thursday, 5 Nov 2026 12:16

The Dáil Public Accounts Committee will write to RTÉ to seek more information on the appointment of broadcaster Ger Gilroy.

Yesterday, the Media Committee heard that RTÉ's sports department was "actually not happy" with the appointment of Mr Gilroy because of comments he made about RTÉ Sport in the past.

The broadcaster was before the Oireachtas Committee on Media following the Government's decision to withhold funding from it.

It also defended its recruitment process in Mr Gilroy's appointment, and rejected assertions by TD's and senators that he had been "head-hunted".

However, this morning the Public Accounts Committee heard that unanswered questions remain around staffing arrangements at RTÉ.

Fianna Fáil TD Séamus McGrath said the committee wants to hear "clearly" the process that was followed in hiring Mr Gilroy.

'Serious question marks'

He said there are also "serious question marks" around the staff reduction programme.

"They need to achieve just over 300 reductions over the coming years, which I think will prove very, very difficult," he said.

Mr McGrath asked if there are other examples of people recruited from the outside and brought into RTÉ.

Social Democrats TD Aidan Farrelly raised concerns over the decision by the Department of Culture, Communications and Sport to withhold funding from the broadcaster.

RTÉ was allocated €240 million in October's Budget, a €20m shortfall from what was agreed between the broadcaster and the Government in a multi-year funding deal.

Minister for Media Patrick O'Donovan said in the hours after the Budget was announced that he was not happy with the pace of reform at RTÉ, including the voluntary exit scheme.

Mr Farrelly asked: "How is it possible for a department to renege on an already committed to level of funding?"

He said the funding commitment was in "clear black and white".

He said how RTÉ officials previously answered questions around recruitment in a previous sitting of the Public Accounts Committee was at "complete odds with what has come out in the last couple of days".

"If that's the way organisations are approaching their appearances here, I would be concerned," he said.

The Comptroller and Auditor General (C&AG) Séamus McCarthy said he is "limited" in what he can say about RTÉ before he becomes its auditor.

The committee heard that the legislation to bring RTÉ under control of the C&AG has not yet been enacted.

The committee's chairperson Sinn Féin TD John Brady said RTÉ and the department will be before members in the coming weeks.

He criticised the "bizzare chain of events" that followed the Budget, saying it is "tying up the work of the committee".

"It was quite clear that the money was going to be paid. It's unfortunate. It has caused huge issues," said Mr Brady.