RTÉ and TG4 have been put under the remit of the New Economy and Recovery Authority (NewERA). 

The service is a division of the National Treasury Management Agency and provides financial and commercial advice to Government ministers and departments on State companies. 

Finance Minister Michael McGrath said he is pleased to announce the assignment following “recent issues surrounding RTÉ”. 

“NewERA provides vital financial and commercial advice [on] the commercial Semi-State sector companies under its portfolio and brings a detailed and comparative knowledge across various sectors,” he said. 

Officials from RTÉ before the Oireachtas Public Accounts Committee. Image: Oireachtas TV

NewERA can provide advice on issues such as “board appointments and remuneration of Chief Executive Officers” of “assets within [the Government’s] ownership”. 

“I look forward to and will consider their advice and contributions in respect of RTÉ and TG4 in the coming months,” Mr McGrath said. 

The appointment of RTÉ and TG4 to the body was recommended in the 2022 Future of Media Commission report. 

Media Minister Catherine Martin has previously received advice from NewERA on both RTÉ and TG4. 

RTÉ payments controversy

The Oireachtas Media Committee and Public Accounts Committee just concluded another week of meetings with RTÉ executives following concerns on its governance and use of finances. 

Senator Regina Doherty said it is not clear who is responsible for the payments controversy after weeks of hearings. 

“There’s been so many mismatches of information,” she said. “I think that’s probably designed to have us at the end of a long three weeks... we’re actually none the wiser.”