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

The context is that RTÉ is faced with substantial financial challenges thus leading to a number of questions. This committee has had RTÉ in here a number of times as there has been a number of issues that we have been concerned about. Both the work that this committee has done and some of its recommendations have been useful. Of course we, as a committee, have encouraged RTÉ to broaden its commercial activity and increase the amount of commercial funding coming in. All that is true but context is everything. RTÉ, as the public sector broadcaster, has an important role and, by and large, it has fulfilled that role fairly well. In terms of context, we must ensure that the State broadcaster is on sound financial footing. RTÉ has gone through a rocky period and we want to make sure that it is coming out of that space. The Deputy is right that we should not tie up our days and nights with this stuff. However, I believe that we would be negligent if we did not keep an eye on RTÉ and I thank the Deputy for pointing out that. We will seek clarification on the points raised and I hope that will give us further information.

The next item of correspondence is R1677 from Ms Oonagh McPhillips, Secretary General, Department of Justice, dated 13 January, providing information requested by the committee regarding non-compliant procurement. It is proposed to note and publish this item of correspondence. Is that agreed? Agreed. Deputy Matt Carthy flagged this item for discussion. Does any member wish to comment on R1677? No. We will note and publish the item of correspondence.

The next item of correspondence is R1678, which concerns big money, from Mr. David Gunning, Chief Executive, National Paediatric Hospital Development Board, dated 13 January, providing information requested by the committee regarding penalty clauses on subsection completion in respect of claims within the agreed dispute management process. It is proposed to note and publish this item of correspondence. Is that agreed? Agreed. Deputy Catherine Murphy and I flagged this item for discussion.