Brian Stanley (Laois-Offaly, Sinn Fein)
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It has been agreed to note and publish the item.

No. 1371B is from Mr. John McKeon, Secretary General, Department of Social Protection, dated 20 July 2022, providing further information requested by the committee regarding the Department’s investigation in relation to contractors engaged by RTÉ. It is proposed to note and publish this item of correspondence. Is that agreed? Agreed. I flagged this item. In the correspondence, Mr. McKeon outlines the current situation, stating that the employment status investigation unit, ESIU, is examining the social insurance status of approximately 500 contractors; and that RTÉ provided the Department with lists of those engaged in contract work in 2018, 2019 and 2020, which formed the basis of the investigation. The correspondence states: "A worker's employment status will still be examined where an individual is no longer engaged or employed by RTÉ. Therefore, it is possible that some workers, under investigation, are no longer under contract or employed by RTÉ", which clarifies that investigations can be retrospective. That is welcome. Mr. McKeon also states that "...7 former contractors who were not included on the original lists provided by RTÉ as being engaged during the period 2018-2020 have contacted the Department directly to be included in the review. RTÉ has been informed that any individual has the right to seek an insurability decision from the Department of Social Protection." In fairness, the Department seems to be going back through it. According to the Department, "Where an individual is determined to be, or have been, in a position of insurable employment, PRSI arrears will be assessed against RTE for the entire period of the misclassification." The confirmation of that from the Secretary General is welcome. At the end of his letter, Mr. McKeon notes that "In order to protect the integrity of the investigation process the Department does not normally comment on the status of ongoing investigations. As previously accepted by the Committee in February...we have committed to providing a report on the outcomes of the investigation upon completion." I certainly look forward to receiving that report from the Department when it is available and welcome the commitment to provide it. Do any other members want to address this issue of correspondence? No. We will note and publish the item.

No. 1373B, from Ms Dearbhla O'Brien, chief executive officer, Greyhound Racing Ireland, dated 22 July 2022 is a response regarding availability to attend a meeting in September 2022. It is proposed to note and publish this item of correspondence. Ms O'Brien stated that Greyhound Racing Ireland is happy to attend the committee, but she needed to check availability with the chairman as they have a board meeting. Later on 22 July, Ms O'Brien came back to say that the date suggested was not suitable as both Mr. Frank Nyhan and Ms O'Brien were unavailable due to prior commitments.

As we set out in our earlier discussion, we will try to get them in.