Results 5,681-5,700 of 10,424 for speaker:Niamh Smyth

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Direct Provision System (11 Nov 2020)

Niamh Smyth: 162. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the actions he has undertaken to monitor the conditions in direct provision centres in County Monaghan; if he is satisfied that conditions are acceptable for residents; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35495/20]

Joint Committee on Media, Tourism, Arts, Culture, Sport and the Gaeltacht: Future of Public Service Broadcasting and Impact of Covid-19 on the Media Sector: Discussion (11 Nov 2020)

Niamh Smyth: I thank members and guests for attending our session on media. Our round-table discussion is with RTÉ, the National Union of Journalists, NUJ, and the Independent Broadcasters of Ireland, IBI, to discuss the future of public service broadcasting and the impact of Covid-19 on the media sector. I request that members sit only in the seats permitted and in front of available microphones...

Joint Committee on Media, Tourism, Arts, Culture, Sport and the Gaeltacht: Future of Public Service Broadcasting and Impact of Covid-19 on the Media Sector: Discussion (11 Nov 2020)

Niamh Smyth: I thank Mr. Lynch. I will not hold him to account for going over time as his presentation was very insightful. I ask witnesses to note the clock and ask them to stick as rigidly as possible to the time allocated. I now invite Mr. Dooley to make his presentation.

Joint Committee on Media, Tourism, Arts, Culture, Sport and the Gaeltacht: Future of Public Service Broadcasting and Impact of Covid-19 on the Media Sector: Discussion (11 Nov 2020)

Niamh Smyth: I thank Mr. Dooley. I advise the witnesses that we will hear all of their opening statements before moving to questions from members. I now invite Mr. John Purcell to make his opening statement.

Joint Committee on Media, Tourism, Arts, Culture, Sport and the Gaeltacht: Future of Public Service Broadcasting and Impact of Covid-19 on the Media Sector: Discussion (11 Nov 2020)

Niamh Smyth: We have heard very stark presentations from our three witnesses. I do not believe there is anybody in this room who would disagree with anything they have said. I now invite Senator Warfield to put his questions.

Joint Committee on Media, Tourism, Arts, Culture, Sport and the Gaeltacht: Future of Public Service Broadcasting and Impact of Covid-19 on the Media Sector: Discussion (11 Nov 2020)

Niamh Smyth: I remind members that they only have five minutes for their contributions.

Joint Committee on Media, Tourism, Arts, Culture, Sport and the Gaeltacht: Future of Public Service Broadcasting and Impact of Covid-19 on the Media Sector: Discussion (11 Nov 2020)

Niamh Smyth: I thank Senator Cassells and our guests. As Senator Carrigy is not here, I call Deputy Mattie McGrath.

Joint Committee on Media, Tourism, Arts, Culture, Sport and the Gaeltacht: Future of Public Service Broadcasting and Impact of Covid-19 on the Media Sector: Discussion (11 Nov 2020)

Niamh Smyth: Who will answer that?

Joint Committee on Media, Tourism, Arts, Culture, Sport and the Gaeltacht: Future of Public Service Broadcasting and Impact of Covid-19 on the Media Sector: Discussion (11 Nov 2020)

Niamh Smyth: Within a minute or as close to that as possible.

Joint Committee on Media, Tourism, Arts, Culture, Sport and the Gaeltacht: Future of Public Service Broadcasting and Impact of Covid-19 on the Media Sector: Discussion (11 Nov 2020)

Niamh Smyth: Perhaps you will send it to the committee and we can circulate it among the members.

Joint Committee on Media, Tourism, Arts, Culture, Sport and the Gaeltacht: Future of Public Service Broadcasting and Impact of Covid-19 on the Media Sector: Discussion (11 Nov 2020)

Niamh Smyth: I have a final few questions. First, I thank the three witnesses for their presentations. I will begin with you, Mr. Dooley. You made your point loud and clear to the committee that talk is cheap and that investment is required. Nobody in this room does not appreciate the organisations and journalists you represent. My local newspapers are The Anglo-Celt and Northern Standard, and I...

Joint Committee on Media, Tourism, Arts, Culture, Sport and the Gaeltacht: Future of Public Service Broadcasting and Impact of Covid-19 on the Media Sector: Discussion (11 Nov 2020)

Niamh Smyth: I thank Mr. Dooley. I have a few specific questions for Mr. Lynch, if that is okay. What has been RTÉ's expenditure on the National Symphony Orchestra, NSO, for the past three years? How much has RTÉ saved, or does it expect to save, when the orchestra moves to the National Concert Hall?

Joint Committee on Media, Tourism, Arts, Culture, Sport and the Gaeltacht: Future of Public Service Broadcasting and Impact of Covid-19 on the Media Sector: Discussion (11 Nov 2020)

Niamh Smyth: Is that annually or is that the saving RTÉ is going to be making?

Joint Committee on Media, Tourism, Arts, Culture, Sport and the Gaeltacht: Future of Public Service Broadcasting and Impact of Covid-19 on the Media Sector: Discussion (11 Nov 2020)

Niamh Smyth: Has the €6 million figure been a cost to RTÉ?

Joint Committee on Media, Tourism, Arts, Culture, Sport and the Gaeltacht: Future of Public Service Broadcasting and Impact of Covid-19 on the Media Sector: Discussion (11 Nov 2020)

Niamh Smyth: What contribution will RTÉ be making to the future of the NSO when it moves, in terms of recording rights, to the National Concert Hall?

Joint Committee on Media, Tourism, Arts, Culture, Sport and the Gaeltacht: Future of Public Service Broadcasting and Impact of Covid-19 on the Media Sector: Discussion (11 Nov 2020)

Niamh Smyth: Is there a figure around that?

Joint Committee on Media, Tourism, Arts, Culture, Sport and the Gaeltacht: Future of Public Service Broadcasting and Impact of Covid-19 on the Media Sector: Discussion (11 Nov 2020)

Niamh Smyth: Perhaps Mr. Lynch could forward those kinds of details to the committee following the meeting.

Joint Committee on Media, Tourism, Arts, Culture, Sport and the Gaeltacht: Future of Public Service Broadcasting and Impact of Covid-19 on the Media Sector: Discussion (11 Nov 2020)

Niamh Smyth: I am curious about some of the figures that Mr. Lynch has presented. RTÉ obviously had a financial difficulty long before the pandemic, which has thrown up more uncertainty in that regard. The redundancy scheme of 2017 promised a reduction in head count of approximately 250 to 300 people, if I am correct.

Joint Committee on Media, Tourism, Arts, Culture, Sport and the Gaeltacht: Future of Public Service Broadcasting and Impact of Covid-19 on the Media Sector: Discussion (11 Nov 2020)

Niamh Smyth: Where are we in terms of those figures now? Are we anywhere near the target or halfway there?

Joint Committee on Media, Tourism, Arts, Culture, Sport and the Gaeltacht: Future of Public Service Broadcasting and Impact of Covid-19 on the Media Sector: Discussion (11 Nov 2020)

Niamh Smyth: Does that mean RTÉ is having to change pathways in terms of its targets for redundancies?