Sinn Féin has called on RTÉ to appear before the Oireachtas Public Accounts Committee once again following the publication of the Grant Thornton review. 

Prior to the summer recess, representatives of the broadcaster were questioned at length by members of the PAC and the Media Committee about the hidden payments to Ryan Tubridy.

Yesterday, Grant Thornton’s report was published, in which it concluded that on the “balance of probabilities”, RTÉ hid Mr Tubridy’s earnings to make them appear less than €500,000 per year.

RTÉ Chair Siún Ní Raghallaigh said the report revealed a culture of “poor internal communication and weak processes" at the broadcaster.

“We need to have the executive board members in again,” Sinn Féin media spokesperson Imelda Munster said.

“We need the former members of the executive board - for example, the Director General and others that we haven’t heard from.

“We also need to hear from the auditor, Deloitte, that was assigned to RTÉ during that period.

“There were questions that were posed to them that weren’t answered.”

RTÉ executives appearing before the Oireachtas Media Committee. Picture by: Oireachtas screenshot

Former Director General Dee Forbes did not take part in the review for medical reasons but PAC Chair Brian Stanley has previously said the committee could compel her to testify if necessary.

“After what has unfolded in the last eight or nine days, I would say to people to ‘cop on,’” he said in June.

“You won’t have any credibility for the rest of your life - wherever they go.

“It’s best to come in, get it out on the table, hold your hands up and say sorry to the public, the staff in RTÉ and other people they mislead.”

Dáil Éireann will return from its summer recess on September 20th.

Main image: Representaives of RTÉ leave Leinster House. Photo: Sam Boal/RollingNews.ie