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

We will note that and request further information.

No. 1018B is correspondence from Mr. John McKeon, Secretary General of the Department of Social Protection, dated 20 January 2022. It is in response to our request for quarterly updates on the investigation of the employment status of workers engaged by RTÉ. The Secretary General outlines the information provided to the committee to date and how the investigation will proceed, but states that the Department does not normally comment publicly on the status of any individual claim or investigation. This is to respect confidentiality and data protection obligations and to protect the integrity of the decision-making process. The Secretary General also raises concerns that "any public comment on specific cases could lead to any decision being challenged or could undermine the sustainability of any decision that may be appealed". However, he does offer to provide the committee with an update on completion of the investigation later this year or early in 2023. It is proposed to note and publish the item and to accept the offer of a further update on completion of the investigation. Is that agreed?