Mattie McGrath (Tipperary, Independent) | Oireachtas source

Many people found humour in my accent last week. While I was asking who the RTÉ board was "loyal" to, the executive took me to be asking who they were "lying" to. While that was not what I asked or insinuated at the time, with the new information that has come to light since last week, when we were assured that there was only one barter account, rather than three, I now wonder. Were the executive fully truthful with us or was there a subconscious element in hearing the word "lying"? I ask that honestly. The drip feed of different information is insulting to us as public representatives, to taxpayers, licence-fee payers and, above all, to the ordinary, decent staff of RTÉ. It is just astonishing. Are we expected to believe that no one apart from Ms Forbes could have known about the figures published for Ryan Tubridy's pay? Is it the case that the executive board members, many of whom are here, were not informed? Did they fail in their fiduciary legal duty as board members? Each board member must ask themselves that question and must tell us. It is quite strict.