The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) has recommended that RTÉ be brought back under the statutory remit of the office of the Comptroller and Auditor General, the State's public funds watchdog.
Publishing its report assessing key issues raised after the payments scandal at RTÉ came to light last year, the PAC has put forward 21 recommendations on six issues assessed by the committee.
The topics assessed include the underwriting of payments made to former Late Late Show presenter Ryan Tubridy and the understatement of Mr Tubridy's earnings.
The PAC also examined the use of the RTÉ barter account, pay, allowances and exit packages of RTÉ executives, the loss-making Toy Show The Musical, and current expenditure matters.
Publishing the report, chair of the PAC Brian Stanley said the committee believes the decisions taken by RTÉ "demonstrate a lack of rigorous financial controls, poor communication, little transparency and amount to a failure of governance".
These issues combined have "damaged public trust in an organisation for which trust should be paramount", he added.
The report comes amid further drama at the broadcaster following Siún Ní Raghallaigh's decision to resign as chair of the RTÉ board after Minister for Media Catherine Martin failed to express confidence in Ms Ní Raghallaigh during a live Prime Time interview.
Terence O’Rourke is set to be announced as Ms Ní Raghallaigh's replacement once Cabinet approval is secured.
Transparency
Among its recommendations, the PAC said RTÉ should implement "without delay" a register of gifts and report to the committee regarding its register of interests and register of outside activities for RTÉ staff.
The report also states RTÉ should ensure that no "side deals", akin to the controversial agreement made in respect of Mr Tubridy, be undertaken in relation to employees or contractors going forward.
Seeking greater transparency over amounts paid to the broadcaster's top earners, the PAC has recommended that RTÉ publish the salaries of staff earning over €150,000 per year in its financial statements.
The report adds that amounts paid to staff members who were on over €150,000 upon their departure from RTÉ should also be included in the annual statements.
Following controversy over confidentiality agreements concerning the details of exit deals made with former senior RTÉ executives, the committee also sought that the broadcaster ensure that any future severance agreements with staff contain no such clauses.
Alluding to dissatisfaction expressed by numerous politicians over several former RTÉ executives declining invitations to appear before both the PAC and Oireachtas Media Committee, the report adds that severance agreements should also include a clause "that the former employee cooperate with any internal or external inquiries or investigations, including Oireachtas Committees".
The PAC also recommended that RTÉ provide an update in June concerning the investigation being carried out by the Department of Social Protection concerning the historic PRSI classification of workers at the broadcaster.
