Mattie McGrath (Tipperary, Independent) | Oireachtas source

You could have waited. You could have cancelled the programme, as others have said. You could have easily pulled out. We know now that you briefed the presenter or the research team that you were prepared to answer this question, so it was a leading question to dismiss her publicly or throw her under the bus, as has been said.

Going forward, how can you feel confident or what confidence can you give us or the public, who I think have switched off from watching this anyway because they are disgusted with it, as they are disgusted with much of the content on RTÉ? I reiterate that I have sympathy for the vast majority of employees in RTÉ. On the cabal at the top, what confidence can you give me and the committee that you will be able to deal with this cabal? You have failed miserably since last July to do so. You seem to be weak at all junctures. Successive Governments have also. What confidence can you give us that you are able to deal with this cabal because that is what it is?

I think Mr. Bakhurst’s position is untenable as well. I find it hard to think that you could say he sat there and did not advise or nudge Ms Ní Raghallaigh and say, “Look, you are misinforming the Minister there”, and that you still have confidence in him but not in the other. Where is this leading? What confidence can you give us that you will be able to deal with this cabal?