RTE in Crisis

Barter account bills bring a testy exchange between RTÉ commercial chief and Sinn Féin TD

More than €1.6m was funnelled through the broadcaster’s three accounts over a decade and Geraldine O’Leary’s defence of this did not go down well with Imelda Munster

RTÉ’s commercial director Geraldine O'Leary and chief financial officer Richard Collins arriving at Leinster House: questions of barter account bills. Picture: PA

“I want to raise the issue of the Renault deal,” Sinn Féin TD Imelda Munster told Geraldine O’Leary, the outgoing RTÉ commercial director, on Wednesday.

“What was the total cost of that Renault deal [with Ryan Tubridy] to the taxpayer?” Munster asked.

“That was from the barter account which was based on additional commercial campaigns and commercial revenues,” O’Leary replied. “I understand the Deputy’s view that it is public money but I know it is ...