Results 2,001-2,020 of 2,414 for speaker:Fintan Warfield

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (22 Jun 2023)

Fintan Warfield: It is almost a year since Sinn Féin's Private Members' motion in the Seanad that sought to save the night-time economy. I know the Minister for Justice, Deputy McEntee, was on maternity leave but I wonder what the Minister, Deputy Harris, was doing. The general scheme of the sale of alcohol Bill 2022 was published in October and there is still a good bit to be resolved. By the sounds...

Seanad: Cybersecurity and Data Protection: Statements (22 Jun 2023)

Fintan Warfield: I welcome the Minister of State to the House. This is a very broad topic. I will focus on a couple of areas that I have recently brought up on the Order of Business. The first is the procurement of facial recognition technology by the Government. The State is going to begin the procurement of body cameras that make use of facial recognition software despite there currently being no...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Culture Policy (27 Jun 2023)

Fintan Warfield: Nightlife and the night-time economy remain under severe threat in our towns and cities and, by the looks of it, the Government is dragging its feet on reform. Rising property costs, rip-off insurance, extortionate licensing fees and archaic licensing are crippling businesses and cultural activity. I call on the Government to reform licensing laws immediately and implement the raft of more...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Culture Policy (27 Jun 2023)

Fintan Warfield: I thank the Minister of State and welcome the commitment to publish a Bill and introduce it to the Oireachtas this year. I plead with the Government to include this Bill on the autumn schedule so that it can be on the books before the end of the year because a pattern of behaviour of delay when dealing with this industry is all too common. I welcome the Minister of State's commitment and...

Seanad: Offences Against the State (Amendment) Act 1998 and Criminal Justice (Amendment) Act 2009: Motions (27 Jun 2023)

Fintan Warfield: I second the amendment.

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

Fintan Warfield: Transparency is at the heart of this issue. The deep anger felt by the staff is because they feel betrayed by the executive board of RTÉ involved in this deal. Trust can only be rebuilt by a more transparent management culture. I urge the witnesses, rather than publish only the salaries of the top ten on-air presenters, to publish the top 100 salaries across the organisation. Can...

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

Fintan Warfield: It is only right. When the executive board negotiates with staff and unions, the board knows what the staff across the organisation get but the staff do not know what the executive board gets. In some cases, people are on more than the DG. The DG’s salary is in the public domain; the salaries of all the top executives should be published too. I ask Ms O'Leary about the issue of...

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

Fintan Warfield: So it would go through the agent.

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

Fintan Warfield: Can anyone present answer on the editorial appropriateness of that, if it is not for the director of commercial? Is it appropriate for journalists, presenters or correspondents in whatever area of the news to be given cars by sponsors?

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

Fintan Warfield: A private company – an agent – is making big profits representing the vested interests of talent, negotiating their pay, getting them speaking gigs and doing their promotion. When a presenter of a show on the public broadcaster is interviewing a client of the same agent, does that represent a conflict of interest? Are they given favourable treatment by virtue of the fact they...

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

Fintan Warfield: If they are represented by the same agent, should that be made clear? Should there be declarations of interest? Are listeners and viewers entitled to know that?

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

Fintan Warfield: The RTÉ statement yesterday said there was no illegality and payments were made pursuant to an agreed contract. Is RTÉ satisfied that the relationship it has with NK Management is consistent with competition law, with its legal obligations and with best practice in public procurement? Are there grounds for an investigation into the relationship by the Competition and Consumer...

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

Fintan Warfield: Does RTÉ go to any other talent agencies, management companies or individuals not represented by agents when they have an idea for a new project or programme? Does it go out to tender?

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

Fintan Warfield: Yes.

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

Fintan Warfield: If the production was in-house such as "The Late Late Show", is there a public procurement process for that?

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

Fintan Warfield: For an in-house production where RTÉ does not go out to an independent production company and where it is not a commission.

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

Fintan Warfield: Where RTÉ is hiring on-air talent.

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

Fintan Warfield: Does RTÉ go out to public tender for-----

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

Fintan Warfield: No. I am assuming when RTÉ has an idea for a show, it may go to an agent and see what list the agent has.

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

Fintan Warfield: Lastly, RTÉ has a tarnished record when it comes to employment law, particularly bogus self-employment. What is the justification for treating workers as companies when they provide their labour, are under the control and direction of RTÉ, work exclusively for RTÉ, and meet all the criteria of an employee? What is the justification for treating these people as companies?