Brendan Griffin (Kerry, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Yes, but the same board people who were there at the time are still here, and they are looking for €50 million. My licence is up for renewal this month. It is €160. I would not trust them with my €160, never mind €160 million. I would rather go down to Murphys bar in Boolteens, and buy a round of drinks. At least I would know where my money went. I would get more cultural content, and I would get more straight talking from people. However, this is the position the board is in at the moment, and I do not think there is any realisation of its role in this. My first parliamentary question on the licence fee showed that there was not a drop-off in the licence fee. It was working. Ms Ní Raghallaigh might say that it is antiquated. She said that in her opening statement. She said that it is not fit for purpose and so on. However, it was bringing in €160 million per annum until now. The first response I received to a question showing a drop-off was 17 July. It was working well until then. It was not perfect. This committee has said it was not perfect. However, the board needs to own the fact that through its failings it has cost €50 million in licence revenue. I am not seeing any acknowledgement of that. I see loads of finger pointing at different people, but I am not seeing this board accept that it had a huge role in this. Its failures from a corporate governance point of view is responsible for this huge loss, this huge hole in the finances, and the massive problems the new DG faces in trying to steer the ship. I am not sensing it from anyone here.