Sinn Féin TD for Cork North Central, Thomas Gould TD, has reiterated Sinn Féin’s call for RTÉ to be subject to the same financial oversight as other publicly funded bodies by being brought under the remit of the Comptroller and Auditor General and the Public Accounts Committee.

Speaking this afternoon, Teactha Gould said:

“The ongoing fallout from the controversy at RTÉ serves no one well, least of all the public and staff at our public broadcaster. They are sick and tired of ongoing revelations.

“The latest news about confidential payoffs are particularly damaging given the public were promised a new era of transparency and openness in how RTÉ does its business and spends taxpayers money. It is very clear that RTÉ needs to be subject to the same financial oversight as other public bodies.

“For that reason I welcome reports that government is moving towards Sinn Féin’s proposal that RTÉ should be brought back under the remit of the Comptroller and Auditor General; as was the case for many, many years. This would also have the effect of ensuring the Public Accounts Committee can provide adequate oversight of its finances. We must see that happen without delay.”