David Cullinane (Waterford, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

As the Chairman is aware, I have raised this issue consistently. It is wise for sectoral committees to observe the work of the Committee of Public Accounts. If these committees feel that we are encroaching on their work in any way, they have an absolute entitlement to inform us about that and write to us so I have no difficulty with that whatsoever. We have consistently said that we do not want to duplicate the work of any other committee. There is a difference between the sectoral committees do and what the Committee of Public Accounts does - even in terms of who appears before the different committees. Ministers and Ministers of State appear before sectoral committees and can deal with issues of policy and so on. We do not do that. We deal with a look-back exercise, value for money and accountability. This issue arose when the Secretary General of the Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment was here. Almost 40% of the entire budget of the Department, which I think was €170 million, was transferred to RTÉ. The Secretary General was not in a position to answer questions in the same way he was answering questions about the rest of the spend because it was a matter for RTÉ. I have very serious questions to ask about allegations of bogus self-employment and contracting of staff, which are genuine issues. There is a potential cost to the State in terms of revenue as well so they are genuine issues that need to be addressed.

Another issue, which was probed by the Chairman, concerned whether or not a proper service-level agreement is in place between the Department and RTÉ. At no point would we want to duplicate the work of the sectoral committee nor would we want to interfere with the independence of the national broadcaster and ask questions about its decisions in terms of programmes. It was never about that and we have said so ad nauseam. There are specific issues we want to ask about and we have a responsibility and an entitlement to probe and ask questions about the spend of €170 million of taxpayers' money even if RTÉ is not audited by the Comptroller and Auditor General. This is a lot of money so we have a responsibility. We should write back to the clerk of the Joint Committee on Communications, Climate Action and Environment and, in a cordial way, agree because I agree with the committee's sentiments but also inform the clerk about why we want to engage with RTÉ.

It is not a crossover in terms of any work that they do.