Niamh Smyth (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

We undoubtedly have our full quorum and I thank my colleagues for being here. Deputy Andrews, as a valued member of this committee, is a connected person with a material interest in the subject matter that is to be discussed so he will not be in attendance. He is being substituted by Deputy Brady, who is here with us and who is welcome. Senator Sherlock is substituting in place of Senator Hoey. The following Members of the Oireachtas have requested some speaking time: Deputy McNamara; Senator Dooley; Senator Murphy; and Deputy Boyd Barrett. Other Members may possibly come along but I would say to those Members that I will have to ensure that our committee members get first priority. However, we will eventually get to them.

I thank our witnesses for being with us; we appreciate it. The joint committee is empowered to consider legislation, policy, governance, expenditure and administration of the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media and State bodies for which the Department is responsible, and RTÉ is one of those bodies. The committee is meeting representatives from RTÉ to discuss the recent revelations concerning the transparency of RTÉ's expenditure of public funds and governance issues related to the statement issued by RTÉ's board on 22 June 2023.

At the outset of this meeting I wish to explain some limitations on parliamentary privilege and the practice of the Houses regarding references witnesses may make to other persons in their evidence. The evidence of witnesses who are physically present or who give evidence from within the parliamentary precincts is protected by absolute privilege pursuant to the Constitution and statute in respect of the presentation they make to the committee. However, witnesses are expected not to abuse this privilege and it is my duty, as Cathaoirleach, to ensure that privilege is not abused.

Witnesses are again reminded of the long-standing parliamentary practice to the effect that they should not comment on, criticise, or make charges against a person or entity by name or in such a way as to make him, her or it identifiable or otherwise engage in speech that might be regarded as damaging to the good name of that person or entity. Therefore, if statements are potentially defamatory in regard to an identifiable person or entity, witnesses will be directed to discontinue their remarks. It is imperative that they comply with any such direction.

Members are also reminded of the long-standing parliamentary practice to the effect that they should not comment on, criticise, or make charges against a person or entity outside the Houses or an official either by name or in such a way as to make her or him identifiable. I remind members of the constitutional requirement that members must be physically present within the confines of Leinster House to participate in the public meeting. I cannot permit a member to attend where he or she is not adhering to that constitutional requirement. Where a member is attending remotely, he or she should confirm that they are attending from within Leinster House before making a contribution via Microsoft Teams. Any member who attempts to attend from outside the precincts will be asked to leave the meeting.

I emphasise to members and witnesses alike that it is imperative that today's meeting is conducted in a fair and respectful manner at all times. It is important, in the interest of natural justice, that members and witnesses act responsibly on utterances concerning those present today and concerning those who are not present. I will intervene in any exchanges where I deem this not to be the case. I would also like to stress to colleagues and Members of the Houses that it is imperative that we hear and consider all of the evidence put before us today before drawing any conclusions on matters arising. It is of the utmost importance that the committee can conduct itself in as effective a manner as possible.

I will move to the agenda of today's meeting. In a statement issued last Friday evening the committee reiterated its belief that public service broadcasting is a key pillar in Ireland's democracy. Transparency and accountability on the part of our public service broadcasters are fundamental and it is with this focus that the committee welcomes representatives from our national broadcaster, RTÉ, to discuss recent issues highlighting concerns on the transparency of RTÉ's expenditure of public funds and governance issues, following the statement issued by the RTÉ board on 22 June. To that end, I welcome all of our witnesses who are here. From RTÉ I welcome the chair of the board, Siún Ní Raghallaigh; Adrian Lynch, interim deputy director general; Anne O'Leary, chair of the audit and risk committee in RTÉ; Robert Shortt, member of the audit and risk committee and board staff representative; Richard Collins, chief financial officer; Geraldine O'Leary, director of commercial; and Rory Coveney, director of strategy.

I want to note that the committee has invited Dee Forbes, as former director general of RTÉ, and Jim Jennings, as director of content, but regrettably neither is able to attend. On that, this committee stands and remains open to having that meeting at a time when they are available and well enough to attend. We give them our best wishes in the meantime.

The format of the meeting is such that I will invite our witnesses to deliver their opening statements, which is limited to five minutes, and we have just one opening statement at this point. For the ease of those presenting I also propose that we include a short comfort break approximately halfway through the meeting for five or ten minutes to give everybody a break because it will be a solid three hours. Before we get to that, I want to say this committee has worked tirelessly over the past three years in support of public sector broadcasting and the entity of RTÉ and in trying to find ways that this committee can address the TV licence and the continued funding of RTÉ. We are here to support and ensure that happens. Evidently the revelations that have happened in recent weeks come as a shock to most of my colleagues around the room; to the public, as we know; and to the staff in RTÉ.

That said, we are here to progress. I want today to be seen as the beginning - not the beginning and end - of a process. All my colleagues today are available to sit throughout the summer, if that is necessary, to make sure that RTÉ is in good stead for the future.

With the housekeeping almost out of the way, I remind our guests that the committee will publish the opening statement on its webpage. The statement will be followed by questions from my committee colleagues. Members have been given a rota for the speaking order. We intimated that each slot would be eight minutes. I will extend that to ten minutes as I do not think we will have the chance to get to a second round in order to give everybody as much opportunity as possible.

I ask our witnesses that if a question is directed to them, they answer it as fully and quickly as possible because our time is short. I call Ms Ní Raghallaigh to make her opening statement.