David Cullinane (Waterford, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

As the Chairman knows, I have been following this up for some time. I have to say I am not pleased with this letter. It raises more questions than answers. It does not answer the questions we asked. It does not state how many of the individual cases have been dealt with so far, which is the substantive question that was asked. A total of 157 cases need to be examined. We do not have any detailed analysis. The letter states ongoing detailed analysis is being done. What detailed analysis? How many cases have been done?

What is more important for me is that it seems to suggest this issue has to do with individuals, that it is being looking at on a case-by-case basis and there is a review of each individual case. Where is the review of management practices? Where is the review of HR practices? These 157 people found themselves on self-employed contracts. We had a hearing and we heard from RTÉ. Even one of the RTÉ presenters who had been speaking to staff said these people were not given a choice. They found themselves on these contracts and not because they wanted them. This is not about putting the responsibility back on the 157 individuals. The question is why were they put in that position. Was it a management practice by RTÉ? Are HR issues raised here?

It is disingenuous, to say the least, to try to suggest in the letter that the issue needs to be resolved by looking at it on an individual case-by-case basis. Potentially, it was a more systemic managerial issue that led to these people being on these contracts in the first place. The letter does not give us the information we sought, which is how many of the 157 cases have been dealt with and how many people have been spoken to. This needs to be done to determine whether they should now be on proper contracts. Where is the review of the management of RTÉ and its HR processes? We need to get this. If it means having Ms Forbes back before the Committee of Public Accounts then so be it. That is what needs to happen. I am not at all satisfied with this response.