Results 1,961-1,980 of 20,725 for speaker:Mattie McGrath

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Question Heading for question(s) 140 (5 Jul 2023)

Mattie McGrath: 140. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality in light of her statement that there exists a serious and genuine, present or foreseeable threat to the security of the State and that such a threat is likely to continue for at least the next 12 months, to outline the details of such threats to the security of the State; to outline the nature of her concerns in this regard;...

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

Mattie McGrath: Many people found humour in my accent last week. While I was asking who the RTÉ board was "loyal" to, the executive took me to be asking who they were "lying" to. While that was not what I asked or insinuated at the time, with the new information that has come to light since last week, when we were assured that there was only one barter account, rather than three, I now wonder. Were...

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

Mattie McGrath: I am asking any board member who feels like answering whether they failed in their fiduciary duty. I am on boards; I recall one night spending two hours at a voluntary board meeting, trying to reconcile a €20 underspend in a voluntary transport company. That is the level of accountability there should be.

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

Mattie McGrath: Any board member who feels like it.

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

Mattie McGrath: Yes.

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

Mattie McGrath: It is a fiduciary responsibility that the board has.

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

Mattie McGrath: That is legal.

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

Mattie McGrath: A key legal and fiduciary responsibility of any board is negotiating the pay, terms and conditions of the company's highest earners. Only the board is in a position to do this job. Almost every board, but especially a publicly funded one, must have a remuneration committee. That committee most likely must meet several times per year. It must investigate and negotiate the pay levels. It...

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

Mattie McGrath: Sure, they were not. The RTÉ executive board's remuneration committee has defined terms of reference, and it failed completely to comply with them. This is why we are sitting around here today. How can you explain this gigantic failure? You were asleep at the wheel. You did not do your job, full stop. How you can maintain your positions is astonishing. We now know that between...

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

Mattie McGrath: There are plenty here to ask - the senior people in RTÉ on the executive board. Do not all look so stony-faced.

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

Mattie McGrath: I want to know if you will co-operate with a Garda inquiry. Nothing else will uncover the facts.

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

Mattie McGrath: Sorry?

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

Mattie McGrath: If any fraud was committed. What about your failure in your fiduciary duties, to which you are duty bound as board members? Is there anybody to check that up, or have you any moral duty to say, "Sorry, I didn't attend those meetings I should have", "Sorry, there were not the number of requested meetings"? That is there in your own governance. How do you explain that? I think we should...

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

Mattie McGrath: Thank you, but sure I cannot get answers for the ones I asked. Could I ask again? Would all of the board members welcome a Garda inquiry? Will you explain why you failed in your fiduciary duties, as set down in your own corporate governance, to do the required minimum number of meetings and why the chair absurdly failed to attend those meetings and be in control of what was going on?

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

Mattie McGrath: Would you welcome a Garda inquiry?

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

Mattie McGrath: No, the previous speaker, please. Would you welcome a Garda inquiry and co-operate with it?

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

Mattie McGrath: What else will we get? We are expected to hold you to account. Nobody in RTÉ is holding anybody to account except the junior staff on zero-hour contracts and the people who cannot get maternity leave and sick leave. This is outrageous. I am still calling and will be calling. What about yourselves? Ms Ní Raghallaigh was about to say something.

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

Mattie McGrath: Sorry, but that is your legal advice.