Senator Malcolm Byrne has said that the Oireachtas Media and Culture committee was not “looking for heads on stakes at Donnybrook” over the controversy of staff photographed not observing social distancing guidelines at a retirement event in the station.
A number of RTÉ's top stars have apologised for their attendance at the event.
Among those present were Byran Dobson, David McCullagh and Miriam O'Callaghan, who have all apologised for what they described as an error in judgement.
An invitation was likely to be extended to the director-general of RTÉ, Dee Forbes, following a meeting of the committee on Wednesday, Mr Byrne said.
It was important that RTÉ was committed to public health guidelines and learned from their mistake. The public needed the reassurance that the same rules applied to RTÉ, he added.
The onus was on RTÉ management to provide clarity over what had happened, he told RTÉ radio’s Morning Ireland.
“It was wrong, it shouldn’t have happened.”
Sincere apologies
While the apologies from the presenters who had been photographed had been sincere, he said, RTÉ needed to reassure people that the problem was being reviewed.
“Part of the problem is that RTÉ has not come out and explained what happened. If this had involved someone in politics and someone was not available to comment, RTÉ would be all over it,” he said, referring to the fact that Morning Ireland had sought a spokesperson, but that was told that none was available.
On Friday, RTÉ said it takes public health advice “with the utmost seriousness and has implemented detailed workplace protocols which have been in place since the beginning of the pandemic”.
It added: “These have been essential in keeping staff and visitors/programme guests safe whilst on site.
“Because of the measures taken by RTÉ, no cases of Covid-19 have so far been transmitted on campus.”
They said the event should not have happened and has reminded staff of their obligations to follow public health advice.
Meanwhile, The chair of the joint Oireachtas committee on Media and Culture, Niamh Smyth has said that it was important to have RTÉ management come before the committee to explain how a retirement party was organised during Level 5 restrictions.
While apologies from a number of broadcasters who were photographed at the event had been fulsome, Ms Smyth said she did not accept that the event had been impromptu and RTÉ would have to explain how the event was organised.
The incident was of “huge concern” she told RTÉ radio’s Today with Claire Byrne show. The Oireachtas committee had a responsibility to request answers.
It had been obvious from the photographs that social distancing had not been adhered to and the committee wanted RTÉ management to give a full explanation about how the event occurred in the first place.
Social distancing
Ms Smyth said she was concerned about the message that was being given to the public about social distancing. The public was expected to miss out on important events, people were “pulling together” to make “absolutely every effort” and then to “see this from RTÉ” was disappointing.
Part of the problem was that RTÉ had been very slow to give clarity “nobody was willing to come forward.” All who were in the public eye had to be more forthright. It just wasn’t good enough for RTÉ to say that no one was available (to participate in the Today programme).
“We want answers and we expect a forthright statement from RTÉ. Who organised it? We are in Level 5 lockdown. This was an indoor social gathering. There are very strict guidelines to follow.
“I accept that we’re all human and can have lapses in judgement.”
