Niamh Smyth (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Colleagues and guests are all welcome here this evening. It is a late shift. We call this the graveyard shift in Leinster House, but I am sure attendees do not mind being here with us this hour of the evening. We have received apologies from Deputy Christopher O'Sullivan and Senators Shane Cassells and Fintan Warfield. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh is substituting for Deputy Chris Andrews - she is very welcome - and Senator Timmy Dooley is substituting for Senator Cassells.

The committee is meeting tonight with representatives of RTÉ to discuss the reports of the expert advisory committee commissioned by the Minister, Deputy Catherine Martin, on governance and culture in RTÉ, contract fees, human resources and other matters in RTÉ; the recommendations made therein; and RTÉ’s implementation plans for the recommendations made. We have many new things to talk about as well.

I warmly welcome RTÉ’s interim leadership team. With us this evening are Kevin Bakhurst, director general; Adrian Lynch, director of audiences, channels and marketing and deputy director general; Mr. Mike Fives, group financial controller; Mr. Richard Waghorn, director of operations and technology; Ms Vivienne Flood, head of public affairs, who is no stranger to this room either; Ms Niamh O’Connor, deputy director of content; Mr. Gavin Deans, director of commercial; Ms Deirdre McCarthy, director of news and current affairs; Ms Eimear Cusack, director of human resources; and Mr. Daniel Coady, director of legal affairs.

The committee welcomes all the witnesses and we look forward to discussing the recommendations made by the expert advisory committee and to hear from RTÉ how it will seek to address the recommendations made on the foot of the recent publication and its implementation plan. The format of the meeting is that I will invite the director general to deliver an opening statement, which is limited to three minutes. This will then be followed by questions from members of committee. As witnesses are probably aware, the committee may publish the opening statement on its web page.

Before we proceed to the opening statements, I wish to explain some limitations in relation to parliamentary privilege and the practice of the Houses as regards references witnesses may make to other persons in their evidence. The evidence of witnesses who are physically present or who give evidence from within the parliamentary precincts is protected pursuant to both the Constitution and statute by absolute privilege in respect of the presentation they make to the committee. Witnesses are again reminded of the long-standing parliamentary practice that they should not criticise or make charges against any person or entity by name or in such a way as to make him or it identifiable or otherwise engage in speech that might be regarded as damaging to the good name of that person or entity. Therefore, if their statements are potentially defamatory in relation to an identifiable person or entity, they will be directed to discontinue their remarks. Members are reminded of the long-standing parliamentary practice to the effect that they should not comment on, criticise or make charges against a person outside the Houses or an official either by name or in such a way as to make him or her identifiable.

With all the housekeeping out of the way, which I am sure attendees could ream off themselves at this stage, I propose we proceed to Mr. Bakhurst to deliver his opening statement. The floor is his.