Results 821-840 of 6,944 for speaker:Michael McNamara

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

Michael McNamara: Mr. Collins does not think he is at liberty to tell the Oireachtas committee how much is at stake.

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

Michael McNamara: Deputy Griffin asked whether anybody knew of the situation before 16 March, and all of the witnesses said nobody did. In response to Deputy Cannon, reference was made to when Deloitte came to RTÉ in early March. Does Mr. Collins want to elaborate?

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

Michael McNamara: Has the Patrick Kielty deal been fully signed off on? Is it legally binding on the organisation?

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

Michael McNamara: It is not legally binding as it stands.

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

Michael McNamara: It is or it is not.

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

Michael McNamara: If it goes wrong, RTÉ might be sued on the back of it. Would it not be beneficial to know? Can Mr. Lynch, as acting director general, tell us whether the agreement is legally binding?

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

Michael McNamara: Mr. Lynch is not sure whether it has been signed by RTÉ.

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

Michael McNamara: We will leave it there. The witnesses cannot tell us how much it is for until Mr. Kielty gives his permission.

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

Michael McNamara: If the Irish Independenthad not gotten its hands on it last week would RTÉ be asking Ryan Tubridy if it was okay to divulge it?

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

Michael McNamara: Would the public, some of whom pay a licence fee, know? Would the Oireachtas know about the Ryan Tubridy thing if the Irish Independenthad not gotten its hands on it? RTÉ has said it will tell us about the Patrick Kielty deal if and when he agrees. Would we know about the Ryan Tubridy overpayments if the story had not been leaked somewhere or if theIrish Independenthad not gotten its...

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

Michael McNamara: So it was fortuitous that the Irish Independentwas asking questions around the same time.

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

Michael McNamara: Okay. I thank Ms O'Leary. Is everything RTÉ broadcasts public service broadcasting or just some of it?

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

Michael McNamara: Okay. RTÉ does not differentiate between commercial and public service.

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

Michael McNamara: Everything is public service, from "Dancing with the Stars" right through to reruns of "Dynasty" or something like that.

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

Michael McNamara: It is all public service. People are annoyed about this. I do not want to personalise this; Ryan Tubridy is entitled to earn as much as he can. He is obviously a talented individual. However, his contract was being negotiated at the same time as RTÉ was closing Lyric in Limerick to save money. How does RTÉ determine the worth of a presenter? In Britain it is clear that if an...

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

Michael McNamara: RTÉ is still paying 100% more to the most talented people. I am not saying they could not earn more in Britain. I can think of a couple of current affairs presenters who had very successful careers in Britain, and I am sure many of the top ten could go there tomorrow and perhaps earn a lot more money.

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

Michael McNamara: Either way, it is not competition for RTÉ if they go there. Their slot just gets filled by somebody else. How does RTÉ justify paying a lot more to these people than any commercial rival in Ireland can pay?

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

Michael McNamara: Mr. Lynch said it would be untenable to have Ryan Tubridy on air in the circumstances. He spoke repeatedly about a breach of corporate governance. He has used that term countless times. Ultimately, it is the board's responsibility to ensure that corporate governance is adhered to. In those circumstances, is the board's position tenable?

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

Michael McNamara: Well, maybe Mr. Lynch. He answers to the board, so if he wants to answer the question first, he can go ahead.

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

Michael McNamara: I know Mr. Lynch did not, and the board did not either, individually, but collectively it is responsible for corporate governance. It is not there to run RTÉ, it is there to be responsible and make sure it can stand over it. It cannot, and that is why the board members are here. Does Ms Ní Raghallaigh have any doubt that the board's position is tenable? That is on behalf of the...