RTÉ have apologised for Toy Show the Musical

Simon Kelly

“We accept the collective responsibility”

RTÉ have issued an apology for ‘Toy Show The Musical‘, citing a “significant lapse in oversight” after the production was wrapped up in the controversy surrounding their secret payments scandal.

Siun Ni Raghallaigh, the chair of RTÉ’s board, said that information was withheld from the board after it was revealed that their was no written approval for the show.

The event cost RTÉ a total of €2,272,859 in losses after its run in Dublin’s Convention Centre in 2022.

RTÉ have apologised for Toy Show the Musical

The board chair apologised to the public and to RTÉ staff, saying that their aim was now “to fully restore confidence in the organisation”.

“The board acknowledged the serious deficiencies now highlighted in the report at a board meeting last July and has since taken the necessary steps to ensure there is no repeat of these failures,” Ms Ni Raghallaigh said in a statement.

“The report finds that board approval was required for Toy Show The Musical, and it also finds that the formal approval of the board was neither sought nor provided for.

“The report clearly illustrates that the board was not kept appropriately informed about the project as it was being developed. External expert advice was ignored.

“Information was also withheld from the board. Significant contracts were committed to without the knowledge or approval of the full board.

“The executive should have been interrogated by the board on the project, on an ongoing basis and in a much more rigorous fashion.

“The commercial risks associated with an undertaking of this nature were grossly underestimated. The project was not appropriately stress tested.

“The report also highlights a failure in generally accepted accounting practices, in that sponsorship was not correctly presented to the board and all costs were not properly captured and linked to the project.”

A report was released by the RTÉ board in February of last year confirming event sponsorship of €120,000. However, the income figure was lowered to €45,000 in July.

Thursday’s report from Grant Thornton revealed additional costs relating to the musical of €69,628 — which were not previously included in reported figures.

Despite the apology, Ms Ni Raghallaigh, did, however, express her confidence in the board going forward, saying that they accept “collective responsibility”.

“There is collective responsibility here,” she said on RTE’s News At One. “Not just on the part of the board but also on the Executive, and we accept the collective responsibility.

“These board members were there at the time, but I have every confidence in them.”