Mr. Kevin Bakhurst:

If I have anything to do with it, she will not be right about this. As the Senator will know, part of my priority has been to engage with staff and unions, including with Emma O'Kelly. We have to make tough decisions because of position the organisation is in. Part of the reason that we have to make decisions early, and that is it important we preserve the cash we have, is so we do not have to be in the position of looking down the barrel of a gun with compulsory redundancies. I have been asked about that. I have attended more than 30 staff meetings at RTÉ in the last few weeks and one of the questions that always comes up is, "Are you going to impose compulsory redundancies?". I have said that I will do everything in my power to make sure we do not get to that point. I do not want to get there. I do not think the Government would be keen to sign off on that either. We would have to get permission from the Government. That would be the final thing we would ever want to get to. I think it is true - I have said this at all the staff meetings I have attended - that during this period the staff have carried the reputation of the organisation on their shoulders.

I have used those words in a number of the meetings because they have. The news teams, which Emma O'Kelly is part of, the current affairs teams and the sports teams in recent days have produced fantastic output. They have carried on working through this when it is has been extremely difficult. They have been dealing with a number of news stories almost every day about their own organisation, which I know from my background in news is pretty testing. They have done it with extreme professionalism and commitment. I have said to them face to face that I am very grateful.

The answer is that I am afraid they are sharing some of the pain. We are all taking pain at the moment because of the financial challenge facing us.