Results 1,081-1,100 of 2,476 for speaker:Malcolm Byrne

Joint Committee on Tourism, Culture, Arts, Sport And Media: Transparency of RTÉ Expenditure of Public Funds and Governance Issues: Discussion (Resumed) (5 Jul 2023)

Malcolm Byrne: Hang on Senator Conway. We went around for one round of questions.

Joint Committee on Tourism, Culture, Arts, Sport And Media: Transparency of RTÉ Expenditure of Public Funds and Governance Issues: Discussion (Resumed) (5 Jul 2023)

Malcolm Byrne: I appreciate that. In fairness to the witnesses, they have been here since half past one.

Joint Committee on Tourism, Culture, Arts, Sport And Media: Transparency of RTÉ Expenditure of Public Funds and Governance Issues: Discussion (Resumed) (5 Jul 2023)

Malcolm Byrne: I asked the question about benefit-in-kind in terms of any of the cars.

Joint Committee on Tourism, Culture, Arts, Sport And Media: Transparency of RTÉ Expenditure of Public Funds and Governance Issues: Discussion (Resumed) (5 Jul 2023)

Malcolm Byrne: Okay, so we will get we get clarity on it. I am conscious of the time so I ask whether Ms Ni Raghallaigh wants to make any final remarks.

Joint Committee on Tourism, Culture, Arts, Sport And Media: Transparency of RTÉ Expenditure of Public Funds and Governance Issues: Discussion (Resumed) (5 Jul 2023)

Malcolm Byrne: I thank the witnesses because I am conscious that it has been a long day. I also thank the clerk and the staff here and those who prepared the documentation. We are aware of the issue of Ryan Tubridy and Noel Kelly seeking to appear before the committee. There will be a private meeting of the committee to determine when that will go ahead. That concludes our business for today. The...

Joint Committee on Tourism, Culture, Arts, Sport And Media: Transparency of RTÉ Expenditure of Public Funds and Governance Issues: Discussion (28 Jun 2023)

Malcolm Byrne: I thank the witness for coming before the committee today. I will start by saying that Ms Ní Raghallaigh indicated earlier that the second Grant Thornton review should be completed within four weeks. Ms Ní Raghallaigh, will you give a commitment that you will come back before the committee when the review has been completed and also to answer questions at this stage?

Joint Committee on Tourism, Culture, Arts, Sport And Media: Transparency of RTÉ Expenditure of Public Funds and Governance Issues: Discussion (28 Jun 2023)

Malcolm Byrne: It seems very clear, and following from the previous set of questions, that Noel Kelly seems almost to be able to dictate contracts to RTÉ and they are simply accepted. I find unbelievable the idea that RTÉ is operating off partially verbal contracts. My next question is for Mr. Lynch. How many people in RTÉ are represented by Noel Kelly?

Joint Committee on Tourism, Culture, Arts, Sport And Media: Transparency of RTÉ Expenditure of Public Funds and Governance Issues: Discussion (28 Jun 2023)

Malcolm Byrne: What is an approximate figure? Perhaps Geraldine O'Leary or another one of your colleagues knows this.

Joint Committee on Tourism, Culture, Arts, Sport And Media: Transparency of RTÉ Expenditure of Public Funds and Governance Issues: Discussion (28 Jun 2023)

Malcolm Byrne: I find it surprising that the executive board does not know how many people are represented. Who was in the room with Noel Kelly when these contracts were negotiated? Who was in the room when Noel Kelly negotiated Ryan Tubridy's contract?

Joint Committee on Tourism, Culture, Arts, Sport And Media: Transparency of RTÉ Expenditure of Public Funds and Governance Issues: Discussion (28 Jun 2023)

Malcolm Byrne: The chief financial officer was in the room with Noel Kelly.

Joint Committee on Tourism, Culture, Arts, Sport And Media: Transparency of RTÉ Expenditure of Public Funds and Governance Issues: Discussion (28 Jun 2023)

Malcolm Byrne: Was there anybody else in the room at the time?

Joint Committee on Tourism, Culture, Arts, Sport And Media: Transparency of RTÉ Expenditure of Public Funds and Governance Issues: Discussion (28 Jun 2023)

Malcolm Byrne: The chief financial officer and the head of legal would have been aware of the contract.

Joint Committee on Tourism, Culture, Arts, Sport And Media: Transparency of RTÉ Expenditure of Public Funds and Governance Issues: Discussion (28 Jun 2023)

Malcolm Byrne: Okay, so we are negotiating the contract for the biggest star in RTÉ and the agent for that person is in the room. The chief financial officer at the time was there and somebody from the legal department was there.

Joint Committee on Tourism, Culture, Arts, Sport And Media: Transparency of RTÉ Expenditure of Public Funds and Governance Issues: Discussion (28 Jun 2023)

Malcolm Byrne: At the very least the director general's office, the chief financial officer's office and the legal office in RTÉ-----

Joint Committee on Tourism, Culture, Arts, Sport And Media: Transparency of RTÉ Expenditure of Public Funds and Governance Issues: Discussion (28 Jun 2023)

Malcolm Byrne: -----would have known in all of these circumstances. The executive board would have had a copy of Ryan Tubridy's contract. How many of the witnesses would have been aware of Ryan Tubridy's contract? Was Mr. Lynch aware of his contract?

Joint Committee on Tourism, Culture, Arts, Sport And Media: Transparency of RTÉ Expenditure of Public Funds and Governance Issues: Discussion (28 Jun 2023)

Malcolm Byrne: Even though you were the one who was charged with ensuring how many hours Ryan Tubridy was on air, and you had to have complete knowledge of all of that, you did not know what was in Ryan Tubridy's contract.

Joint Committee on Tourism, Culture, Arts, Sport And Media: Transparency of RTÉ Expenditure of Public Funds and Governance Issues: Discussion (28 Jun 2023)

Malcolm Byrne: Okay but you just knew that aspect of what Ryan Tubridy was expected to do for his contract and not, if you like, what RTÉ was going to pay him.

Joint Committee on Tourism, Culture, Arts, Sport And Media: Transparency of RTÉ Expenditure of Public Funds and Governance Issues: Discussion (28 Jun 2023)

Malcolm Byrne: When did you become aware, as Deputy Brady asked, of the verbal agreement?

Joint Committee on Tourism, Culture, Arts, Sport And Media: Transparency of RTÉ Expenditure of Public Funds and Governance Issues: Discussion (28 Jun 2023)

Malcolm Byrne: In recent-----

Joint Committee on Tourism, Culture, Arts, Sport And Media: Transparency of RTÉ Expenditure of Public Funds and Governance Issues: Discussion (28 Jun 2023)

Malcolm Byrne: Okay.