Results 1,961-1,980 of 2,988 for speaker:James O'Connor

Public Accounts Committee: RTÉ Commercial Arrangements: Mr. Ryan Tubridy and Mr. Noel Kelly (11 Jul 2023)

James O'Connor: My time is up. I may come back in subsequently.

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (11 Jul 2023)

James O'Connor: Over the weekend, the chief executive of the IDA and others commented about the infrastructure deficit. What is the Government doing to try and tackle this, in particular pertaining to road projects? A significant number of national road projects, some contained within the national development plan, NDP, are not being replaced because of funding. What is being done to deal with that,...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Pension Provisions (11 Jul 2023)

James O'Connor: I thank the Minister of State for being present. It is great to have this question selected before the summer recess. I had a fascinating meeting in my constituency office, of which this Topical Issue is the brainchild. I met with a retired public health worker who had worked as a midwife. Without going into too many specifics, it was one of the most interesting exchanges I have had since...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Pension Provisions (11 Jul 2023)

James O'Connor: I appreciate the Minister of State's response but it does not really answer my question. I acknowledge that it is not his Department or role and that the response is from the Minister, Deputy Donohoe. I have here the forms for the supplementary pension allowance application. They include a statement from the applicant indicating that he or she understands it will be necessary to provide...

Public Accounts Committee: Appropriation and Expenditure of Public Moneys by RTÉ (Resumed): RTÉ (13 Jul 2023)

James O'Connor: The first question I would like to ask is to Mr. Lynch. It is about the total staff count in RTÉ. How many are permanent employees of the organisation?

Public Accounts Committee: Appropriation and Expenditure of Public Moneys by RTÉ (Resumed): RTÉ (13 Jul 2023)

James O'Connor: There is approximately 1,800, and they are employed by RTÉ on a direct, non-contractor basis, is that correct?

Public Accounts Committee: Appropriation and Expenditure of Public Moneys by RTÉ (Resumed): RTÉ (13 Jul 2023)

James O'Connor: How many people then within RTÉ are contractors?

Public Accounts Committee: Appropriation and Expenditure of Public Moneys by RTÉ (Resumed): RTÉ (13 Jul 2023)

James O'Connor: Can Mr. Lynch give us an approximate figure?

Public Accounts Committee: Appropriation and Expenditure of Public Moneys by RTÉ (Resumed): RTÉ (13 Jul 2023)

James O'Connor: Could I ask how many members of staff, from a percentage perspective, are working in management in RTÉ? It is normally around 15% in an organisation that would be working in management.

Public Accounts Committee: Appropriation and Expenditure of Public Moneys by RTÉ (Resumed): RTÉ (13 Jul 2023)

James O'Connor: Okay. I want to note that I was not expecting, nor were many people, to realise that there are more than 100 people in RTÉ who are on in excess of €100,000.

Public Accounts Committee: Appropriation and Expenditure of Public Moneys by RTÉ (Resumed): RTÉ (13 Jul 2023)

James O'Connor: That is very substantial.

Public Accounts Committee: Appropriation and Expenditure of Public Moneys by RTÉ (Resumed): RTÉ (13 Jul 2023)

James O'Connor: Obviously it was going to increase at an incremental level to the higher salaries up to the top-paid members. That is something of concern. Does Mr. Lynch think it has an organisational issue when it comes to wages at the top level of management within RTÉ?

Public Accounts Committee: Appropriation and Expenditure of Public Moneys by RTÉ (Resumed): RTÉ (13 Jul 2023)

James O'Connor: I want to immediately move on to ask questions about the audit and risk committee in RTÉ. It is important to ask how many staff are working within the internal audit department of RTÉ. I want to try to get that answer from the witnesses please, if that is okay.

Public Accounts Committee: Appropriation and Expenditure of Public Moneys by RTÉ (Resumed): RTÉ (13 Jul 2023)

James O'Connor: How many staff is employed within the internal audit department of RTÉ?

Public Accounts Committee: Appropriation and Expenditure of Public Moneys by RTÉ (Resumed): RTÉ (13 Jul 2023)

James O'Connor: Just two people. May I ask, of the two people, how many are qualified accountants? It is probably both of them in that case.

Public Accounts Committee: Appropriation and Expenditure of Public Moneys by RTÉ (Resumed): RTÉ (13 Jul 2023)

James O'Connor: They would obviously give a brief of matters to the audit and risk committee of RTÉ, would that be correct?

Public Accounts Committee: Appropriation and Expenditure of Public Moneys by RTÉ (Resumed): RTÉ (13 Jul 2023)

James O'Connor: Is it correct to say that its findings would ultimately end up back with Mr. Collins?

Public Accounts Committee: Appropriation and Expenditure of Public Moneys by RTÉ (Resumed): RTÉ (13 Jul 2023)

James O'Connor: Does the audit and risk committee ever hire any external experts throughout the years for special reports, or anything of that kind?

Public Accounts Committee: Appropriation and Expenditure of Public Moneys by RTÉ (Resumed): RTÉ (13 Jul 2023)

James O'Connor: That would be an example, but what about the annual internal audits within the organisation?

Public Accounts Committee: Appropriation and Expenditure of Public Moneys by RTÉ (Resumed): RTÉ (13 Jul 2023)

James O'Connor: I want to note that I asked the last day and a commitment was given at a meeting at which Mr. Collins was present - I think it was the meeting of the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Tourism, Culture, Arts, Sport and Media - for the internal audit reports to be released, and got a very firm commitment that day that they would be. Does RTÉ intend to provide those internal audit reports?