Catherine Martin (Dublin Rathdown, Green Party) | Oireachtas source

To address the Deputy's first issue, the Department of Social Protection is continuing a scope investigation into the classification and potential reclassification of a group of contractors at RTÉ and, as with other HR matters at RTÉ, neither I nor my Department have any involvement in that process. It is a historic review examining status and, consequently, PRSI classification of different groups of workers over a long period of time looking at approximately 700 people. In many cases, those involved will no longer be engaged by RTÉ. They may now be employees or they may have been properly classified as self-employed. As I said, however, as with other HR matters, neither I nor my Department have any involvement in the process. There is a process in place with the Department of Social Protection, however.

With regard to the voluntary exit scheme report, it does show that proper approval procedures were agreed and were applied in most cases. There was one exception to this, however. That exception was the agreement that was reached with the former chief financial officer, CFO. This severance package was not approved by the former executive board as was required. There are other highlight cases. I can come back to the Deputy. I just wanted to address the Deputy's first issue, but I can come back to her.

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