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

Apologies have been received from Deputy Verona Murphy. Deputy Colm Burke may be a little late because he has business to attend to in the Dáil. I welcome you all to our first engagement of 2022. Due to the current situation regarding Covid-19, only the clerk to the committee, the support staff and me are present in the committee room. Members of the committee are attending remotely from within the precincts of Leinster House. This due to the constitutional requirement that in order to participate in public meetings, members must be physically present within the confines of the Parliament. The Comptroller and Auditor General, Mr. Seamus McCarthy, is a permanent witness to the committee.

This morning, we engage with officials from Raidió Teilifís Éireann, RTÉ, to examine Exchequer funding of RTÉ, which is now provided through Vote 33 - Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media. The following conditional matters are included in the letter of invitation and may be examined during the course of the engagement by members: RTÉ's 2020 annual report and group financial statement; RTÉ's financial sustainability and capacity performance role as the national public sector broadcaster; the television licence fee; the investigation undertaken by the Department of Social Protection in respect of contract staff; the sale of lands; the Willis Towers Watson organisation-wide role review, including remuneration of Irish-speaking workers; and any gender pay gaps at RTÉ. RTÉ has also been made aware that the committee might wish to follow up on matters relating to it that were raised with the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media on 25 November 2021.

We are joined remotely from outside the precincts of Leinster House by the following officials from RTÉ: Ms Dee Forbes, director general; Mr. Richard Collins, chief financial officer; and Ms Fiona O'Shea, group financial controller. The following officials are also attending remotely from outside the precincts of Leinster House from the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media, which is a big Department: Ms Patricia Murphy, assistant secretary, corporate division; Ms Tríona Quill, assistant secretary, broadcasting and media division; and Mr. Stephen Ryan, principal officer. broadcasting policy. They are all very welcome. When we begin to engage I ask members and witnesses to mute themselves and they are not contributing, so that we do not pick up any background noise or feedback. As usual, I remind all those in attendance to make sure that their mobile phones are on silent or are switched off.

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

Members are reminded of the provision within Standing Order 218 that a committee shall refrain from enquiring into the the merits of a policy or policies of 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 House or an official either by name in such a way as to make him or her identifiable.

To assist our broadcast and debate services I ask that members direct their questions to a specific witness. If the question is not being directed to a specific witness, I would ask that each witness statement name on the first opportunity that they contribute.

I now call on Mr. Seamus McCarthy for his opening statement.