Oireachtas Joint and Select Committees
Thursday, 12 October 2023
Public Accounts Committee
Appropriation and Expenditure of Public Moneys by RTÉ (Resumed): Discussion
9:30 am
Alan Kelly (Tipperary, Labour)
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I have a list of questions that I do not want answered now. Please note them and respond by next week. Please do not respond at 11 o'clock the night before. I would appreciate answers in a reasonably time.
People have been in touch with me from RTÉ and I have concerns about what they told me. The first set of questions is for the Department. I want to know the following by next Wednesday: on 21 June, the director general was suspended. When was the Department notified of that, by whom and in what manner? When was the Minister informed, by whom and in what manner? Please do not provide a generic answer. I want the questions answered specifically in the order I ask.
The director general resigned on 29 June. Who in the Department was told about that, by whom in RTÉ and in what manner? When was the Minister told this, by whom and in what manner?
Regarding the Tubridy payments, I ask the same question. When was the Department first told about this, by whom and in what manner? When was the Minister first told this, by whom and in what manner?
My colleagues outlined the issues relating to Mr. Collins resigning pretty well and we can all draw our own conclusions. They are pretty obvious.
My next question is about the minutes of the executive board for the past five years. I asked for these but they have not been provided. You said you had to redact them. You have had four and half months to do so. Can we have them all by next Wednesday, please?
You said there was no gifts register since 2017, which I find absolutely amazing. Will you please write to all employees of RTÉ asking them about gifts from 2017 to now, because the claim that there is no gifts register in RTÉ is beyond comprehension?
I asked the question myself regarding flagship shows in the past five years and how many times RTÉ presenters, or people working for, or paid by, RTÉ, appeared on such shows. You said that it was too difficult to provide that information, which is complete rubbish. The question applies to Friday and Saturday night, more or less. Can that information be provided please because I want it audited? The public wants it audited to see how this cosy relationship has manifested itself and how it is going to change and if it is changing. This is a big issue for the public.
A freeze on employment been announced. Are there two freelancers working on "The Late Late Show" corresponding with other people doing the same jobs? This may or may not be accurate. Please answer if it is and, if so, why
On the subject of Toy Show The Musical, there is a review into this. I respect that. I do not blame RTÉ for trying things. However, the amount put into this was absolutely ridiculous. What are the producers of the show doing now?
I want to address the issue of the MS Teams meeting and the famous tripartite document. I have taken a different angle and I agree with all my colleagues. This is a really serious moment for Mr. Bakhurst. Does Ms Licken believe that RTÉ should provide the Committee of Public Accounts with that document?