Cabinet will hear this morning that Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport Patrick O’Donovan is to request a full explanation from the chairman of the RTÉ board for a number of pension top-up payments and other matters that have come to light.
The pension payments, the disputed ownership of a piece of art in RTÉ’s possession and the unclear status of a portion of land on the RTÉ site came to light as part of a recent examination of RTÉ’s 2024 accounts.
Minister O’Donovan will tell Cabinet he wants a full written and oral report on the matters from Chairman of the RTÉ board Terence O’Rourke.
In a note to staff yesterday, RTÉ Director General Kevin Bakhurst said the payments referred to were historically recorded on RTÉ’s balance sheet and details were brought to the attention of the department.
Regarding the art piece, he said RTÉ is currently seeking to establish ownership of the piece, while the section of land referred to was originally used by the Department of Post and Telegraphs.
The land is around one acre in size and is situated on the corner of the Stillorgan duel carriageway and Nutley Lane.
Cabinet ministers will also consider the RTÉ Annual Report for 2024 at their meeting.
The report shows the broadcaster recorded a €5.5 million surplus last year compared to a €9.1m deficit the previous year.
Exchequer funding was €48m and commercial revenues increased 4.9% to €158m.
Approval in principle for BusConnects programme in Cork
A number of other matters will also come before Cabinet.
Minister for Transport Darragh O’Brien will seek approval in principle for the BusConnects programme in Cork.
This will allow for the detailed design and procurement stage and for a planning application to be lodged with An Coimisiún Pleanála.
Minister O’Brien, who is also Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment, will seek Government approval to support international climate initiatives at this year’s COP30 conference in Brazil next month.
Initiatives would have to be in line with Irish Government Climate Policy.
As well as Minister O’Brien, it is expected Taoiseach Micheál Martin will attend the conference which is organised by the United Nations.
The conference will focus on the efforts needed to limit the global temperature increase to 1.5C, and the presentation of new national action plans.
Cabinet will also hear from the Minister for Housing James Browne about the latest social and housing delivery statistics which were published earlier this month.