Government probes into RTE crisis may be anonymised

The findings of two highly anticipated probes into RTE – set to help determine funding for the crisis-hit broadcaster – may be anonymised.

Media minister Catherine Martin ordered two independent expert reviews into the station’s culture and governance after revelations about financial mismanagement last year.

RTE commissioned its own reports into controversial incidents like the understating of pay for its then-highest earner Ryan Tubridy and the circumstances behind a musical that accrued millions of euro in losses.

The latest report into the ill-fated Toy Show The Musical was criticised for a decision to grant all contributors anonymity.

The report did not publish any names and referred only to those interviewed as ‘Person 1’ through to ‘Person 26’.

On Friday, Ms Martin said the decision was made for legal reasons but the removal of people’s names from the report was a “distraction”.

“You find yourself, as you’re reading it, nearly trying to work out who was who,” she said.

Ms Martin said the Government’s independent expert reviews are taking a broader look at culture, governance and HR practices inside RTE and will bring forward recommendations.

The reports will be used in the Government’s decisions about emergency and future funding for the cash-strapped organisation.

Asked if the Government-commissioned reports will have named individuals, the minister said she has not been told they will be anonymised.

But in a statement to the PA news agency, the Department said on Monday the names may be redacted.

A spokesman said: “The draft reports of the Expert Advisory Committees will be reviewed by their legal advisers prior to their submission to the Minister.

“The Expert Advisory Committees will make a decision whether to anonymise any element of their reports based on that legal advice.”

Ms Martin said she expects current members of the RTE board and leadership team to identify which numbered contributor they are from the Toy Show The Musical report when they next appear before Oireachtas committees.

The reports are expected to be published at the end of February.