Media minister must go

• Bail out after bail out and Martin failed to ask basic questions
• Taoiseach and Tanaiste must reflect on why RTÉ continues to dominate the headlines
• Department must publish note from former chair regarding remuneration committee deliberations

Labour media spokesperson Marie Sherlock has said Catherine Martin’s position as Media Minister is now untenable. 

Senator Sherlock said:

 “From the outset of the RTÉ crisis, Martin has been on the backfoot. 

“In the context of multiple bail outs of RTÉ by the public, we now know for sure that the Minister failed to ask the most basic questions.

“She has presided over a most damaging period for the State broadcaster where public trust has been totally demolished.

“At the outset of this crisis, I was very concerned by the Minister’s failure to call for people to unequivocally pay their tv licences. This revenue stream has since dramatically reduced.

“From the former Chairperson’s statement last night, it appears that Minister Martin was in fact kept abreast of details of exit packages some former RTÉ executives received. 

“Ní Raghallaigh’s statement suggests that the Department has a written record of notification from the Board following the remuneration committee’s approval of exit packages. 

“This must be published in full immediately.

“The Media Minister is the protector of RTÉ but crucially, the Minister should be the protector of the public purse. 

“The Taoiseach and the Tánaiste must now reflect on the Media Minister’s handling of this whole debacle, and ask, is she the person to ensure that necessary reforms take place in RTÉ that will be crucial to its survival, and is she the person who can restore public trust in the State broadcaster?”