Results 101-120 of 448 for at speaker:Christopher O'Sullivan

Joint Committee on Tourism, Culture, Arts, Sport And Media: Transparency of RTÉ Expenditure of Public Funds and Governance Issues: Discussion (Resumed) (11 Jul 2023)

Christopher O'Sullivan: .... He was asked whether he would work with agents like Mr. Kelly again and was asked to give a "Yes" or "No" answer. He said he could not give a definite "Yes" or "No" but, to paraphrase, he said that in all likelihood, it is a "No". Does that not put Mr. Tubridy's future at RTÉ in serious jeopardy?

Joint Committee on Tourism, Culture, Arts, Sport And Media: Transparency of RTÉ Expenditure of Public Funds and Governance Issues: Discussion (Resumed) (11 Jul 2023)

Christopher O'Sullivan: It would have been prior to the publication of RTÉ's top earners on 15 February 2023. What I am trying to get at here is that Mr. Tubridy would have seen this €150,000 come into his account. He would have then seen that it was not represented in the payments as published in February 2023. I know he has apologised for it before but-----

Progress on the National Parks and Wildlife Service: Statements (6 Jul 2023)

Christopher O'Sullivan: I wholeheartedly agree with Deputy Leddin's comments on what the Minister of State has achieved. Deputy Leddin spent his entire statement speaking about how great the Minister of State is. I will not do that. These are statements on progress in the National Parks and Wildlife Service and, by God, there has been incredible progress in the organisation. I know it is an organisation in which...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: National Parks (6 Jul 2023)

Christopher O'Sullivan: ...Aindrias Moynihan. The Gearagh is a magical place. While it is only up the road from Clonakilty, it takes me about an hour to get there. I was lucky enough to see the penduline tits there. What is a penduline tit says you? The first penduline tit ever recorded in Ireland landed in the Gearagh last year. An incredibly rare Eurasian bittern was also found there. The Deputy is right;...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Water Services (6 Jul 2023)

Christopher O'Sullivan: I thank the Minister for his response. I have seen first-hand the difference the investment in Uisce Éireann and in water services has made in many towns in my constituency, such as Castletownbere, which has a brand-new wastewater treatment plant. Others include Courtmacsherry and Timoleague; the state-of-the-art wastewater treatment plant in Castletownshend near Skibbereen has just...

Joint Committee on Tourism, Culture, Arts, Sport And Media: Transparency of RTÉ Expenditure of Public Funds and Governance Issues: Discussion (Resumed) (5 Jul 2023)

Christopher O'Sullivan: We would assume that, after this situation came up, the individual was approached. I understand why, for reasons of sensitivity, Mr. Lynch cannot name the individual or say in what area of RTÉ he or she may have worked. Can Mr. Lynch at least name the brand of car that was returned?

Joint Committee on Tourism, Culture, Arts, Sport And Media: Transparency of RTÉ Expenditure of Public Funds and Governance Issues: Discussion (Resumed) (5 Jul 2023)

Christopher O'Sullivan: Mr. Lynch also mentioned, when it was originally brought it up, that this was not approved. He said that at the outset. He said this was not approved.

Joint Committee on Tourism, Culture, Arts, Sport And Media: Transparency of RTÉ Expenditure of Public Funds and Governance Issues: Discussion (Resumed) (5 Jul 2023)

Christopher O'Sullivan: It is probable that there will be more. Is Ms Ní Raghallaigh still not willing to say that she does not have confidence in the executive board at the moment?

Joint Committee on Tourism, Culture, Arts, Sport And Media: Transparency of RTÉ Expenditure of Public Funds and Governance Issues: Discussion (Resumed) (5 Jul 2023)

Christopher O'Sullivan: She expects more. I do as well, by the way. I appreciate that, and also that she is slightly hampered in terms of what she can say. I will move to Ms O'Keeffe. If the former director general, Dee Forbes, was here, one of the questions I would ask her would be whether she feels like she was thrown under a bus. That term has come up quite a lot. Does she feel like she was thrown under a...

Joint Committee on Tourism, Culture, Arts, Sport And Media: Transparency of RTÉ Expenditure of Public Funds and Governance Issues: Discussion (Resumed) (5 Jul 2023)

Christopher O'Sullivan: I do and I think Ms O'Keeffe has taken that opportunity to clear her name. As I said, the way it was presented, and the way I interpreted it, it was very much laying the blame on the former director general and the former chief financial officer, which is Ms O'Keeffe. I will move on to Ms O'Leary. On accountability, and this is something Deputy Munster tried to get to the bottom of. Ms...

Joint Committee on Tourism, Culture, Arts, Sport And Media: Transparency of RTÉ Expenditure of Public Funds and Governance Issues: Discussion (Resumed) (5 Jul 2023)

Christopher O'Sullivan: Was Mr. Tubridy at any point was asked for a recording to promote the show? Is there any truth in what we heard?

Joint Committee on Tourism, Culture, Arts, Sport And Media: Transparency of RTÉ Expenditure of Public Funds and Governance Issues: Discussion (Resumed) (5 Jul 2023)

Christopher O'Sullivan: My final question is for both the former and current CFOs. There was an article in The Sunday Timesrecently stating that the RTÉ bosses knew of the Ryan Tubridy secret payments in February 2020. At that point, if I am correct, there was an overlap in roles. In other words, there was a comprehensive handing over of roles. What do our witnesses make of that claim inThe Sunday Timesthat...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: General Practitioner Services (4 Jul 2023)

Christopher O'Sullivan: That is very good. I would usually be trying to sell the place to her. I would tell everyone how great the place is and would say that it has everything, yet, unfortunately, the one thing it lacks is an abundance of GPs. That is why I am raising this Topical Issue. The Minister of State is familiar with the area. It is a vast area and it is geographically unique. In many places,...

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

Christopher O'Sullivan: I will get straight into it, as those ten minutes will not be long going. I will start with Mr. Lynch. Senator Carrigy alluded to the fact that the former director general, Dee Forbes, was thrown under the proverbial bus. When I first read the statement yesterday, I was struck by a few things in terms of its timing. It came after the former director general, Dee Forbes, resigned. A lot...

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

Christopher O'Sullivan: You are laying all the blame in terms of the contracts and the agreements at the feet of the former Director General?

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

Christopher O'Sullivan: Who was aware that the underwriting guarantee approach was one that the Director General was looking at?

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

Christopher O'Sullivan: Did you, at any point, advise the Director General that this guarantee or underwriting of payments was not the way to go?

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

Christopher O'Sullivan: Did the term "consultancy fees" not jump out at you at that point?

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

Christopher O'Sullivan: You say you did not see the invoices directly yourself. Again, I think it is seriously concerning that there was such a lack of oversight within your office. Clearly, there were not the checks and balances to see that. I think it beggars belief, to be honest, that the term "consultancy fees" on an invoice that pertained to the payment of Mr. Tubridy was not flagged at the time.