Results 1,441-1,460 of 18,726 for speaker:Michael McDowell
- Seanad: Judicial Appointments Commission Bill 2017: Report Stage (Resumed) (10 Dec 2019)
Michael McDowell: I do have permission.
- Seanad: Judicial Appointments Commission Bill 2017: Report Stage (Resumed) (10 Dec 2019)
Michael McDowell: I move amendment No. 15: In page 9, line 11, after “shall,” to insert “not exceed €300,000 in any calendar year and shall” The purpose of the amendment is to amend the relevant section providing for the costs of the commission in order to put a cap of €300,000 in any calendar year on the expenditure of the commission. I do not want to anticipate...
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Future Funding of Public Service Broadcasting: Discussion (10 Dec 2019)
Michael McDowell: On the point discussed by Deputy Cullinane, Ms Forbes stated seven persons are on contract and that RTÉ is in negotiation with them about pay reductions. She was not clear as to whether any of them has yet committed to a reduction. Have there been any commitments, aside from statements from them to the effect that they will go with the flow?
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Future Funding of Public Service Broadcasting: Discussion (10 Dec 2019)
Michael McDowell: Ms Forbes stated there had been one settlement. What percentage reduction was achieved on that occasion?
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Future Funding of Public Service Broadcasting: Discussion (10 Dec 2019)
Michael McDowell: How long remains on the contracts that have been provided for?
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Future Funding of Public Service Broadcasting: Discussion (10 Dec 2019)
Michael McDowell: Ms Forbes referred to renegotiation on renewal. How far away from happening is that?
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Future Funding of Public Service Broadcasting: Discussion (10 Dec 2019)
Michael McDowell: To what percentage will RTÉ agree as a reduction for those people when the renegotiation stage is reached? What is the target? Is it 10%, 20% or 30%?
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Future Funding of Public Service Broadcasting: Discussion (10 Dec 2019)
Michael McDowell: I accept it could be wrong information but it has been suggested to me that the 30% figure, which is a global figure, included one particular person who left the organisation from whom credit was taken while the others were given the benefit of that. Is that correct?
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Future Funding of Public Service Broadcasting: Discussion (10 Dec 2019)
Michael McDowell: If a mega-earner leaves at the top, then the percentage reduction is distorted by that.
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Future Funding of Public Service Broadcasting: Discussion (10 Dec 2019)
Michael McDowell: It is just these percentages.
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Future Funding of Public Service Broadcasting: Discussion (10 Dec 2019)
Michael McDowell: These percentages are easy to talk about. However, at some stage, even in global terms, we should have the actual amount of cash that this programme of renegotiation etc, will actually realise. Can that be done?
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Future Funding of Public Service Broadcasting: Discussion (10 Dec 2019)
Michael McDowell: One settlement has been negotiated. Seven of the top ten people in question are contracted. Does that mean the other three are employees?
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Future Funding of Public Service Broadcasting: Discussion (10 Dec 2019)
Michael McDowell: Are employees the subject of a reduction?
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Future Funding of Public Service Broadcasting: Discussion (10 Dec 2019)
Michael McDowell: I thought the whole staff of RTÉ was getting a cut imposed on it.
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Future Funding of Public Service Broadcasting: Discussion (10 Dec 2019)
Michael McDowell: Ms Forbes agreed with Deputy Cullinane that the decision to put out to tender the television licence fee collection system could be described as either unsustainable or kicking it down the road. I note the Department has stated there are difficulties with using the local property tax model because the landlord is usually the owner and is liable for it. With a bit of thought, the...
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Future Funding of Public Service Broadcasting: Discussion (10 Dec 2019)
Michael McDowell: Is there any reason the committee's report was rejected?
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Future Funding of Public Service Broadcasting: Discussion (10 Dec 2019)
Michael McDowell: The idea that it is too complicated to work out how the Revenue could collect this just does not stand up to reason. There is a Finance Bill every year that deals with loopholes. Massive legislation is composed within months. I suggest this is a deliberate choice not to face up to this issue.
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Future Funding of Public Service Broadcasting: Discussion (10 Dec 2019)
Michael McDowell: On a point of order, I want to clarify that I did not pursue the matter with Ms Cronin because I had forgotten that she is not entitled to speak on the merits of a Government policy. That is why we should have Ministers in here.
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Future Funding of Public Service Broadcasting: Discussion (10 Dec 2019)
Michael McDowell: I just wanted to make that clear.
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Future Funding of Public Service Broadcasting: Discussion (10 Dec 2019)
Michael McDowell: That is another 20,000 votes.