Alan Kelly (Tipperary, Labour) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the witnesses. I have been knocking around here for a good while and this is the most extraordinary meeting I have had in the Committee of Public Accounts, and I have been to a lot of them. I have so many questions I could be here all day. I know I will have two rounds. I want to make a series of points first and then I will get to the questions.

First, I hope Dee Forbes does come in. If she does, I reckon it will help with a range of the issues that have been raised here. I do not think it would necessarily be good for a number of members of the executive.

Second, by next Thursday, I want the witnesses to provide the following: a copy of all bank accounts for RTÉ, where they are located and how often they are reconciled; and a copy of all barter accounts. On the latter, I include ones in TG4 or anywhere else, going back for the past 20 years. That is how far we have to go back. I remember the scenarios whereby a bike was brought on to the show for a former host of "The Late Late Show" or the golf clubs that were given to Ryan Tubridy. We have to go back a long way. I want the barter accounts for the past 20 years. If there are more of them, so be it.

The witnesses have already agreed to provide details of their salaries to us next week, but I also want to know if there are any pension top-ups or if there are any other benefits.

In the context of brand ambassadors and car payments, when did car payments come in or any other form of payment to supplement people's incomes? A former colleague, Tommy Broughan, raised the issue of cars for RTÉ stars in the Dáil in 2005. That tells us how far back we are looking. When did they come in?

I also want a full audit over the past five years of appearances by the top 20 stars in RTÉ on shows that they were not involved in. This cross-fertilisation is also valuable. We need to find out what was going on, if this was part of any deal, etc.

Can we get a full list of all talent agents that have done contracts with RTÉ? Do any of the talent agents have any shares or ownership of any shows that have been contracted by RTÉ? I ask the witnesses to provide a full audited list.

On the barter accounts, RTÉ listed out some of the issues regarding tickets etc., including Champion’s League finals and rugby. I note the former head of RTÉ news and current affairs was at the Champion’s League final in 2019. It is up publicly; that is the only reason I can say it. Can we get a full list of all payments, all tickets and where they were divulged to?

I will get into some core questions and would appreciate short, sharp answers. I am not trying to be rude, rather it is just that I do not have much time. I think I am the only person in this committee who is a former Minister. I want to say this to the chair, and I do not know you. If you went to a meeting with me and did not tell me what you did not tell the Minister, Deputy Catherine Martin, in relation to asking for the resignation of the director general, you would not be in the position now. I do not think any Minister would put up with that and I do not expect this Minister to put up with it. That is information you have to tell the Minister. I went through some of the most difficult things as a Minister during my period and that is something you would have to tell the Minister. I ask the previous chair whether, in her opinion, she would have told the Minister.