Catherine Martin 'completely out of her depth' with RTÉ crisis, says Doherty

Cate McCurry and Cillian Sherlock, PA

Updated: 9.15am. Additional reporting by Vivienne Clarke.

Sinn Féin has no plan to call a motion of no confidence in Minister for Media Catherine Martin, the party's deputy leader Pearse Doherty has said.

However, he called on the Green Party Minister to answer questions in the Dáil to “clear up very quickly” concerns about RTÉ.

Speaking on Newstalk Breakfast, Mr Doherty said Ms Martin is “behind the curtains”, adding there are concerns that she does not “have a handle” on the crisis at the national broadcaster.

“She is completely out of her depth,” Mr Doherty said.

His comments come as the Minister has faced criticism over her handling of the matter following the resignation of Siún Ní Raghallaigh as chair of the RTÉ board.

Ms Ní Raghallaigh resigned from the position after Ms Martin was unable to say she had confidence in Ms Ní Raghallaigh during a live Prime Time interview.

The Minister claimed she had been misinformed about the chair’s role in approving an exit package for former RTÉ chief financial officer Richard Collins.

However, in a statement released on Monday, Ms Ní Raghallaigh hit out at Ms Martin, claiming she had no option but to resign after an “enforced dismissal”.

She also criticised the Minister for “actively taking a hands-off approach” to the widening scandal at RTÉ and accused her of not assisting with falling TV licence revenues.

Her statement came in response to Ms Martin's appearance before the Oireachtas Media Committee last week, during which she gave her version of events on the circumstances which led to Ms Ní Raghallaigh's departure.

Responding to Ms Ní Raghallaigh's claims, Ms Martin said she needed to be able to rely on getting “clear, timely and accurate information” from the former chair.

She added: “This is particularly important at such a challenging time in RTÉ’s history.”

No confidence

Asked if Sinn Féin would be tabling a motion of no confidence in Ms Martin, Mr Doherty said he did not have confidence in the Minister for Housing or the Minister for Health. “We can’t put down motions of no confidence in all of them,” he said.

Mr Doherty pointed out that there had been a report on the TV licence issue on the Minister’s desk “for the last three years”, but she had not addressed the issue.

“I think she's been exposed as a minister that completely doesn't have a handle on the crisis in RTÉ. “We are rolling into crisis after crisis in RTÉ.”

He said it is clear the Minister was “hands off”, adding: “We want the Minister to come before the Dáil to answer questions. Let her be held accountable to the Dáil.”

Mr Doherty said there needs to be clarity on the exact number of meetings the Minister had with Ms Ní Raghallaigh, as the pair have offered differing accounts on the matter.

The Government is set to name Terence O’Rourke as Ms Ní Raghallaigh's replacement after his recommendation by Ms Martin was approved by the Coalition leaders on Monday. His appointment is expected to be put to the Cabinet on Tuesday.

Mr O’Rourke, originally from Co Monaghan, is a former KPMG managing partner and the current chair of ESB, and is due to be confirmed alongside two other new board appointments once Cabinet approval has been secured.