Ms Breda O'Keeffe:

If the Deputy’s question is did those fees raised for contractors exist before Dee Forbes, they did. I just want to say, and I know that they are high, but together with the previous director-general, we made a commitment to the Government and to the public that we would reduce those top talent earnings from 2008. We did that through negotiation and editorial changes, etc. We reduced the top talent fees - I cannot recall the exact years - but between 2008 and perhaps 2016 - correct me if I am wrong on those dates - we reduced those earnings by over 30%. To answer the Deputy’s question then, those earnings were higher previously and we brought them down. We continued through this negotiation process which had started - Ryan Tubridy’s salary was part of it - with other presenters, where we wanted to reduce that further. The endeavour and aim were to reduce top talent fees further.