Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

It is important to point out that there is more than one person on the executive board. In any democracy, in any decent society, as I am sure the Deputy will agree, anyone should be afforded due process. For me now to condemn en massean entire executive board made up of several different people who had several different roles would not only be unfair but potentially would leave the State open to compensation claims under constructive dismissal. I have to be conscious of looking after taxpayers' money here even if some people in RTÉ did not. I am not at liberty to do what the Deputy has just done, which is to condemn en massethe executive board and every member of it. That would leave the State open up challenge and I do not want to put the State in that position. The solution to not looking after taxpayers' money is not for the Government to do the same. I will not do the same. I have confidence in the executive board but I reserve my position in relation to that and to individual members as the situation develops and as issues arise. What will happen though is the new director general, DG, Mr. Kevin Bakhurst, will take up position quite soon. I am sure that he will want to reconstitute the executive board or perhaps get rid of it altogether.

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