Results 941-960 of 2,964 for speaker:James O'Connor

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?

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

James O'Connor: Okay. From a reputational perspective, it is key that it happens. I listened to Deputy Alan Kelly's contribution, and he was really on note with regard to just how fed up everybody is. I think the public is at this point as well. Everybody wants to find a way for us all to move on in some degree or fashion, and part of that process is transparency. Unfortunately, until such a time that...

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

James O'Connor: A set list of charities that RTÉ would support within the organisation.

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

James O'Connor: "The Late Late Toy Show" appeal would be the only major charity that RTÉ would work in conjunction with, and that would partner with the organisation?

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

James O'Connor: Is Mr. Collins aware?

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

James O'Connor: Okay. On compliance with the Charities Regulator guidelines, is RTÉ fully compliant to the witnesses' knowledge?

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

James O'Connor: Is RTÉ compliant as an organisation? Are there any issues around compliance?

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

James O'Connor: It would be great to clarify that. The next line of questioning I want to move on to is on Mr. Tubridy. Unfortunately, during Mr. Tubridy's committee appearance on Tuesday, it was very difficult for us to have a full understanding of the situation, and this was primarily to do with the documentation that was released at very short notice. Some of the documentation in that actually...

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

James O'Connor: Mr. Lynch had sight of those emails before the first Committee of Public Accounts appearance.

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

James O'Connor: I want to say that from what came from that, there was not that much transparency. It is highly disappointing, and it is highly damaging for RTÉ as well.

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

James O'Connor: I have to take you up on that. I completely disagree. The email chain that was given to us by Noel Kelly Management and Mr. Tubridy clearly shows a huge paper trail. I am at the point now where I do not know what to believe anymore, but what we do know is that there are files of information that are on paper and there is an email trail. Everything needs to be released – everything.

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

James O'Connor: Why were they not released earlier? Mr. Tubridy did so when he was coming into the committee.

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

James O'Connor: I want to be clear. Ryan Tubridy made enormous mistakes, in my opinion, and I challenged him on that. However, I am conscious that there were two presenters within RTÉ whose reputations took a very significant battering during the week because of what Ms Mullooly just said regarding the releasing of information. Responsibility is important and, from a legal perspective, I know Ms...