The director-general of RTE, Mr Bob Collins, yesterday issued a statement to staff acknowledging that harm had been done by "completely unacceptable behaviour" in the workplace.
Issuing the statement after yesterday's RTE Authority meeting, Mr Collins said he and the authority considered that better preventive measures were required and that procedures should be put in place immediately.
Mr Collins's statement said: "Following the newspaper reports last weekend concerning working relationships in RTE, I have discussed the matter with the authority and have made it clear that we all know that a group of our colleagues have been hurt and distressed by completely unacceptable behaviour in the workplace.
"As individuals and as an organisation, we must acknowledge the harm that has been done and we must be sensitive to the feelings of everyone who has been affected by such a regrettable situation." The statement singled out the covert recording of a conversation between colleagues and said such surreptitious recordings could not be countenanced.
Earlier this week it was reported that RTE confirmed it could face legal action from several current and former employees following the resignation of Mr Andrew Burns, the head of scheduling planning for RTE television.
Mr Burns had been the subject of several formal complaints about his management style and he appeared before a disciplinary inquiry last December.
The board found there was a conflict in some of the evidence from one of the complainants and it decided not to take disciplinary action against Mr Burns.
A former employee, Ms Helen O'Rahilly, has threatened legal action after being presented with a transcript of a taped conversation involving Mr Burns which he did not know was being recorded. On the tape, Mr Burns was alleged to have made derogatory comments about Ms O'Rahilly and other RTE staff members.