Brian Stanley (Laois-Offaly, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

Okay, I thank Mr. McCarthy for that. Can we agree to note the listing of accounts and financial statements? Agreed. As usual, the listing of accounts and financial statements will be published as part of our minutes.

We will move to correspondence. As previously agreed, items that were not flagged for discussion for this meeting will continue to be dealt with in accordance with the proposed actions that have been circulated, and decisions taken by the committee in relation to correspondence are recorded in the minutes of the committee’s meetings and published on the committee’s web page.

The first category under which Members have flagged items for discussion is correspondence from Accounting Officers or Ministers and follow-up to committee meetings. The first two items relate to the same issue so I propose that we discuss them together. No. 2143B, from Mr. David Gunning, chief executive, National Paediatric Hospital Development Board, dated 19 September, provides information we requested regarding the operating theatres at the national children’s hospital. No. 2146B, from Ms Eilísh Hardiman, chief executive, Children’s Health Ireland, dated 19 September, provides information we requested regarding the operating theatres at the national children’s hospital. It is proposed to note and publish both items of correspondence. Is that agreed? Agreed. I flagged this item, as did Deputy Catherine Murphy who is unavoidably absent. We flagged it for today, but representatives from Children's Health Ireland are due to appear before the committee in a few weeks' time. I propose that we hold back Nos. 2143B and 2146B until that meeting. I will take that as being accepted. We will deal with them on that day when we have the hospital development board and Children’s Health Ireland before us.

Item 2148, from Mr. Kevin Bakhurst, Director General of RTÉ, provides information requested by the committee arising from the meeting on 13 July 2023. Members will be aware that we received a large dossier of documents from RTÉ and we will be meeting with its representatives again on 12 October. I propose we note and publish the correspondence. Is that agreed? Agreed. If any members wish to comment on it they should please feel free. There were a number of pieces of correspondence we did not get, in particular, the employment contract for the former director general, Ms Dee Forbes. We did not get the exit packages for Ms Breda O'Keeffe, former chief financial officer, or Ms Geraldine O'Leary, former head of commercial activity at RTÉ. I propose that we get the opinion of our legal advisers in the Office of Parliamentary Legal Advisers, OPLA, regarding these matters and then we can decide how to progress with this. We need to look for these documents or at the very least get further information regarding what exit packages exist in RTÉ, and the terms of the contract of employment for directors general. I propose that we seek legal advice on that and see what powers we have in terms of compellability and how best to handle this. Is that agreed? Agreed. We will seek to bring the OPLA before the committee to advise us on this matter.

We will move on to the work programme. Members were circulated with a draft work programme discussion document, which is displayed on their screens. Next week, we will engage with the HSE with regard to financial statements. I propose that we add the dental treatment purchase fund and the leasing of ambulances to the agenda as areas of interest. Is that agreed? Agreed. On the dental treatment purchase fund, the secretariat might note that we had a particular focus on budget and outcomes. We are seeking information from it in that regard.

On 12 October, we will meet again with representatives from RTÉ to resume examination of the following: matters relating to the appropriation of public moneys to RTÉ and the expenditure by RTÉ of such moneys; and commercial arrangements entered into by RTÉ and its presenters, including those underwritten by RTÉ, which have impacted on and relate to expenditure. Deputy Catherine Murphy also suggested that we have the Secretary General of the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media in on the same day. I take that as being accepted.

On 19 October, we will engage with Children’s Health Ireland with regard to its 2021 financial statements and the National Paediatric Hospital Development Board with regard to its latest financial statements. I will ask the Comptroller and Auditor General to give us an update on the National Paediatric Hospital Development Board’s 2021 financial statements.