Ms Breda O'Keeffe:

Deputy Griffin asked about transport and guest costs. He asked a general question on how we control those kinds of matters. We manage them individually based on programme budgets. Each programme will have a budget. Within each, there will be line items. There are strict guidelines and appropriate levels of expenditure, including on guest fees and transport. The Deputy mentioned some guests on "The Late Late Show". Many guests promoting their own book or film do not receive a fee because it is a promotional event. However, in the case of many others, for whom there may be international competition, we pay fees to attract them and make the show popular.

With regard to transport costs, I believe the Deputy mentioned a taxi fare of €500. That would abnormal. I certainly have not come across anything like that. We tender for taxis. Where we provide the taxi fares for contributors to programmes or programme guests, the programme producers or PDAs make sure in the first instance they have the most cost-efficient way of getting to the studio. It is not always by taxi. One can come on one's own steam. Where we provide taxes, we tender the arrangements and ensure we get the most cost-effective one. We operate a number of controls.