Results 2,521-2,540 of 2,836 for speaker:Malcolm Byrne

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Arts, Media, Communications, Culture and Sport: Policy, Governance, Expenditure and Administration at RTÉ: Discussion (28 May 2025)

Malcolm Byrne: Can I ask specifically when Mr. Bakhurst personally became aware of this problem?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Arts, Media, Communications, Culture and Sport: Policy, Governance, Expenditure and Administration at RTÉ: Discussion (28 May 2025)

Malcolm Byrne: I am not doubting Mr. Bakhurst's honesty but somebody in RTÉ was aware of this issue in 2023. Mr. Bakhurst came in as director general and he was aware of all the other controversies happening. Did nobody in RTÉ think to come to him and say, "Hey, DG, we have a problem involving a €3.6 million write-down"? Particularly given everything else that was going on, was that not...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Arts, Media, Communications, Culture and Sport: Policy, Governance, Expenditure and Administration at RTÉ: Discussion (28 May 2025)

Malcolm Byrne: I appreciate that. One never necessarily gets praise for projects that are delivered on time and on budget.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Arts, Media, Communications, Culture and Sport: Policy, Governance, Expenditure and Administration at RTÉ: Discussion (28 May 2025)

Malcolm Byrne: However, €3.6 million is a significant write-down. I respect the work Mr. Bakhurst is doing but he will understand my concern that he, as director general, was not informed of the issue internally. My next question is for Mr. Ó Coigligh. Is it correct that the Department was not alerted to this problem at any stage until it sent its request about it to RTÉ?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Arts, Media, Communications, Culture and Sport: Policy, Governance, Expenditure and Administration at RTÉ: Discussion (28 May 2025)

Malcolm Byrne: When did somebody become aware it was a €3.6 million write-down? Somebody knew there was a problem but when was it known that it involved a cost of €3.6 million?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Arts, Media, Communications, Culture and Sport: Policy, Governance, Expenditure and Administration at RTÉ: Discussion (28 May 2025)

Malcolm Byrne: Who might have known, and how early might they have known, there was a write-down of €3.6 million within RTÉ?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Arts, Media, Communications, Culture and Sport: Policy, Governance, Expenditure and Administration at RTÉ: Discussion (28 May 2025)

Malcolm Byrne: We have had the Ernst & Young report and so on and the matter went to the audit and risk committee. Did anybody in that committee or anyone else on the board know about the scale? I am trying to establish that.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Arts, Media, Communications, Culture and Sport: Policy, Governance, Expenditure and Administration at RTÉ: Discussion (28 May 2025)

Malcolm Byrne: Was it aware from 2023?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Arts, Media, Communications, Culture and Sport: Policy, Governance, Expenditure and Administration at RTÉ: Discussion (28 May 2025)

Malcolm Byrne: The committee was aware in 2023. Okay.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Arts, Media, Communications, Culture and Sport: Policy, Governance, Expenditure and Administration at RTÉ: Discussion (28 May 2025)

Malcolm Byrne: I thank the Chair. I want to put on record, while there is a lot of criticism, that in terms of the team within RTÉ and those in the independent production sector, a lot of the documentaries, drama and news and current affairs coverage is generally pretty good, including coverage of both the Olympics and the general election last year. We should put that on record.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Arts, Media, Communications, Culture and Sport: Policy, Governance, Expenditure and Administration at RTÉ: Discussion (28 May 2025)

Malcolm Byrne: These questions will be very quick. How many people in RTÉ are currently earning more than the DG?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Arts, Media, Communications, Culture and Sport: Policy, Governance, Expenditure and Administration at RTÉ: Discussion (28 May 2025)

Malcolm Byrne: Are any negotiations still being carried out with Noel Kelly or any other independent agents?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Arts, Media, Communications, Culture and Sport: Policy, Governance, Expenditure and Administration at RTÉ: Discussion (28 May 2025)

Malcolm Byrne: How many is he currently representing?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Arts, Media, Communications, Culture and Sport: Policy, Governance, Expenditure and Administration at RTÉ: Discussion (28 May 2025)

Malcolm Byrne: I will ask Ms Cusack. Does she know, as head of HR, how many people Noel Kelly is currently representing?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Arts, Media, Communications, Culture and Sport: Policy, Governance, Expenditure and Administration at RTÉ: Discussion (28 May 2025)

Malcolm Byrne: I will ask to stop the clock because I am going to do it like the Chair and put three questions quickly. On the RTÉ statement of strategy, will RTÉ meet the target on independent production of €70 million by 2027? On diversity and reviewing, news and current affairs are generally very good, but since the general election, the panel on "The Week in Politics" has...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Arts, Media, Communications, Culture and Sport: Policy, Governance, Expenditure and Administration at RTÉ: Discussion (28 May 2025)

Malcolm Byrne: What about the independent production?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Arts, Media, Communications, Culture and Sport: Policy, Governance, Expenditure and Administration at RTÉ: Discussion (28 May 2025)

Malcolm Byrne: What has "The Week in Politics" got against Government backbenchers?

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Gorse Burning (27 May 2025)

Malcolm Byrne: 382. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the number of instances where the Air Corps or other air or helicopter service contracted by the State has had to assist in dealing with gorse fires during 2023 and 2024 and to date in 2025; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27225/25]

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Legal Aid (27 May 2025)

Malcolm Byrne: 470. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality to provide an update on criminal barrister defence fees; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27115/25]

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospital Services (27 May 2025)

Malcolm Byrne: 774. To ask the Minister for Health if consideration will be given to providing dedicated parking spaces at major hospitals in the State for vehicles transporting cancer patients; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27602/25]