Brian Stanley (Laois-Offaly, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

Today we will engage with officials from the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and the Media, Raidió Teilifís Éireann, RTÉ, and the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland, BAI, to examine matters including Exchequer funding of RTÉ in the context of programme B, broadcasting, in respect of the 2019 Appropriation Account for Vote 29 – Communications, Climate Action and Environment.

We are joined remotely from within the precincts of Leinster House by Mr. Joe Healy, principal officer at the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and the Media. We are joined remotely from outside the precincts of Leinster House by the following officials from the Department: Ms Tríona Quill, principal officer, and Mr. Donal Crowley, head of human resources. We are also joined remotely from outside the precincts of Leinster House by the following officials from RTÉ: Ms Dee Forbes, director general; Ms Eimear Cusack, director of human resources; and Ms Fiona O'Shea, group financial controller. We are also joined by Ms Anne Louise O'Donovan, senior manager, BAI. I warmly welcome all the witnesses to the meeting. I thank them and their staff for the briefing material they prepared for the committee.

I note that this is the first time the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and the Media - a big Department - has appeared before this committee. I wish Mr. Healy and his staff every success with their diverse and important brief.

When we begin to engage I ask members and witnesses to mute themselves when not contributing so we do not pick up background noise or feedback and, as usual, I remind all those in attendance to ensure their mobile phones are on silent mode or switched off.

Before we start, I wish to explain some limitations to parliamentary privilege, and the practice of the Houses as regards reference witnesses may make to other persons in their evidence. The evidence of witnesses physically present or who give evidence from within the parliamentary precincts is protected, pursuant to both the Constitution and statute, by absolute privilege. However, several of today’s witnesses are giving their evidence remotely, from a place outside the parliamentary precincts and, as such, may not benefit from the same level of immunity from legal proceedings as witnesses physically present. Such witnesses have already been advised that they may think it appropriate to take legal advice on this matter.

Members are reminded of the provisions within Standing Order 218 that the committee shall refrain from inquiring into the merits of a policy or policies of the Government, or a Minister of the Government, or the merits of the objectives of such policies. Members are also reminded of the long-standing parliamentary practice that they should not comment on, criticise or make charges against a person outside the Houses or an official either by name or in such a way as to make him or her identifiable. To assist our broadcasting service and the staff of the Debates Office, I ask Members to direct their questions to specific witnesses. If the question has not been directed to a specific witness, whether that is RTÉ or the Department, I ask each witness to state his or her name the first time they contribute.

I am informed that there is a technical issue with the Comptroller and Auditor General's connection so I invite Ms Forbes to make her opening statement. She has five minutes and I will give her a reminder after four minutes.