Government appoints Mazars as forensic accountant to examine RTÉ finances

Minister for Media Catherine Martin has appointed Mazars as the forensic accountant tasked with examining RTÉ's controversial barter account.

The barter account, used in the world of commercial advertising as a way of exchanging goods and services in return for air time, has been at the centre of the RTÉ payments scandal.

There were concerns about its oversight leading the Government to appoint Mazars as the forensic accountant. The barter account was also used to pay out two €75,000 top-ups to Ryan Tubridy after RTÉ facilitated and underwrote a commercial agreement between the presenter and Renault.

On Wednesday, Ms Martin announced Mazars as the forensic accountancy service she is appointing under Section 109 of the Broadcasting Act to examine the accounts of RTÉ.

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The forensic accountant will initially focus on the barter account and any other off-balance sheet accounts. This scope may be expanded by the Minister, she has indicated.

Mazars will also collaborate and share findings with the two new expert advisory groups set up by Government to examine recent revelations inside the broadcaster.

The Minister has also announced the appointment of Stephen Smith to the first review group on governance and culture and Liam Kelly to a group examining fees paid to contractors.

Ms Martin plans to meet the review groups early next week. The procurement for the advisory services to support these reviews is currently out to tender and they are expected to start work in August.

“The appointment of Mazars as forensic accountants is a very important step in getting to the facts in RTÉ and shedding further light on the issues which have surfaced in recent weeks,” Ms Martin said.

“I also want to thank Stephen Smith and Liam Kelly for agreeing to serve on the Expert Advisory Committees on Governance and Culture, and on Contractor Fees, Human Resources and other matters respectively. These expert committees will oversee the independent root and branch examination which will play a key role in restoring trust in RTÉ.”