Alan Kelly (Tipperary North, Labour)
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I have received no apologies. I expect a full turnout from the committee.

Today we are engaging on matters relating to policy, governance, expenditure and administration at RTÉ. The meeting has been convened with the chair to the board of RTÉ, the RTÉ director general and his leadership team and relevant officials from the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media to discuss matters relating to policy, governance, expenditure and administration at RTÉ.

For today's session, the committee has given notice it wishes to seek clarification from today’s witnesses on relevant matters including, but not exclusive to, the following: impairments in the writedown of sums relating to enterprise, resource, planning, ERP project; PRSI classification and related currency and legacy employment issues; RTÉ redundancy schemes; and RTÉ’s ongoing plans for transformation.

I warmly welcome the following witnesses from RTÉ: Mr. Terence O'Rourke, board chairperson; Mr. Kevin Bakhurst, director general; Mr. Adrian Lynch, deputy director general and director of audience channels and marketing; Mr. Daniel Coady, director of legal affairs; Ms Deirdre McCarthy, director of news and current affairs; Ms Eimear Cusack, director of human resources; Mr. Gavin Deans, director of commercial; Ms Mari Hurley, chief financial officer; Ms Patricia Monahan, director of audio; Mr. Richard Waghorn, chief technology officer and director of operations; and Mr. Steve Carson, director of video. From the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media, which will change its title soon, I understand, I welcome the Secretary General, Mr. Feargal Ó Coigligh, who is joined by officials from the Department’s media and broadcasting division, namely, Ms Tríona Quill, assistant secretary, and Mr. Stephen Ryan, principal officer.

Opening statements have been received from the chair to the board of RTÉ, its director general and the Secretary General to the Department. Can I have members’ agreement that we take the statements received as read and that the committee publish the opening statements to the committee’s webpage now. Is that agreed? Agreed.

Before we proceed to questions from members of the committee I wish to advise members that while the committee has received correspondence from and concerning individuals and other organisations and companies in advance of this engagement regarding some of the items that have been flagged for discussions, I remind all members that the names of individuals or identifiable entities or any personal information relating to them should not be discussed publicly in today’s session. If it strays into that unfortunately I will have to intercede and ask members to desist.

I would also like to clarify some limitations references to parliamentary privilege and the practice of the Houses as regards references witnesses make to other persons in their evidence. The evidence of witnesses physically present or giving 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 this committee. This means they have an absolute defence against any defamation action for anything they say at the meeting. However, they are expected not to abuse this privilege and it is my duty as Chair to ensure this privilege is not abused. Therefore if their statements are potentially defamatory in relation to an identifiable person or entity, they may be directed to discontinue their remarks. It is imperative they comply with my direction in such cases.

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.

We will shortly proceed to a questions and answers session with members. Members will be given six minutes for questions and answers. We will have at least two rounds. I ask that members’ questions be specific and direct. As the witnesses are the first witnesses before this committee in public session, I will set some rules as regards engagement. It is not specific to RTÉ but, rather, relates to everyone who will come before this committee while I am chairing. Answers specific to the questions are requested. If there is any issue as regards answering the questions, please flag them but I expect answers to be succinct and to the point. In other words, we do not want to see a situation where there is padding or running down the clock in respect of questions.

With that in mind, members will be given approximately six minutes speaking time. That includes both questions and answers. We will commence with Deputy Malcolm Byrne.