Government considering bringing RTÉ under remit of State auditor to increase oversight - Leo Varadkar

The Dáil’s Public Accounts Committee (PAC) is expected to recommend that the broadcaster is brought under the remit of the Comptroller and Auditor General (C&AG) in a report published shortly.

Media Minister Catherine Martin also backs the move, it is understood.

Bringing RTÉ under C&AG remit will mean the auditor will scrutinise its accounts every year.

This will be in attempt to increase financial oversight at RTÉ.

The public service broadcaster was also raised at the Fianna Fáil party meeting, with Health Minister Stephen Donnelly expressing disappointment at how Liveline handled the issue of mastectomy funding.

Minister Donnelly said a statement “clarifying the matter” was issued to RTÉ before the programme went to air.

The health minister tweeted earlier today he was “very” disappointed how Liveline handled the issue.

“Very disappointing that RTÉ’s Liveline were made aware of this before today's programme but continued to cause anxiety and stress,” Minister Donnelly tweeted.

“Nobody currently receiving [and/or] requiring post mastectomy supports will be facing a reduction in those supports,” he added.

His tweets prompted fury from Joe Duffy, who said it was an “outrageous claim, untrue, disingenuous” to say Liveline caused stress and anxiety.

“I read out [Stephen Donnelly] [HSE] statements the MINUTE I was handed the statements,” he said.

Mr Donnelly also told the Fianna Fáil parliamentary party meeting that he is “100pc behind” supports for women who have had a mastectomy and the decision to level supports across the country by the HSE “has been rescinded”.

The scheme will be back to how it was and the same supports will apply, it is understood.

The scheme was first introduced by the Tánaiste Micheál Martin as Minister for Health back in 2001, the meeting heard.