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

We will look for that information. We will move on. No. R1658B, from Ms Dee Forbes, director general, RTÉ, dated 11 January 2023, provides information requested by the committee regarding expenditure on a musical production, Toy Show - the Musical. It is proposed to note and publish this correspondence. Is that agreed? Agreed.

Regarding this matter, further correspondence has been received today, dated 11 January 2023. I have not had a chance to read it because I only got it in the last few minutes. Members can take a moment to read it.

The one thing that became clear from reviewing the correspondence yesterday was that it sets out very little information regarding numbers, data or any information of substance. Commercial sensitivity is cited, but what the committee needs to know is how many shows were originally scheduled and how many went ahead. I understand some were cancelled due to illness. Generally, some shows will have a provision for that, but what provisions did RTÉ have? Were there understudies in place? I am sure the events were insured. RTÉ indicated that many television shows have taken several years to bed in and for the investment to show whether it has been successful. I would like RTÉ to advise the committee if it is considering proceeding with Toy Show - the Musical in 2023.

RTÉ has indicated that it has tried to balance its response with the committee's legitimate interest in understanding the rationale for the project. From what we have seen in this response, the organisation has failed to do that. It has provided little or no information of note in terms of what we need to know in respect of this committee's task. RTÉ states in its letter that its remit covers more than commercial activity and that the organisation has a balance to strike in respect of providing clarifications. While it is good to receive this information back from RTÉ, I do not think it tells us anything and does not answer any of the questions we had. I call Deputy Catherine Murphy.