Results 1,261-1,280 of 2,648 for speaker:Malcolm Byrne

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

Malcolm Byrne: I find it surprising that the executive board does not know how many people are represented. Who was in the room with Noel Kelly when these contracts were negotiated? Who was in the room when Noel Kelly negotiated Ryan Tubridy's contract?

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

Malcolm Byrne: The chief financial officer was in the room with Noel Kelly.

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

Malcolm Byrne: Was there anybody else in the room at the time?

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

Malcolm Byrne: The chief financial officer and the head of legal would have been aware of the contract.

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

Malcolm Byrne: Okay, so we are negotiating the contract for the biggest star in RTÉ and the agent for that person is in the room. The chief financial officer at the time was there and somebody from the legal department was there.

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

Malcolm Byrne: At the very least the director general's office, the chief financial officer's office and the legal office in RTÉ-----

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

Malcolm Byrne: -----would have known in all of these circumstances. The executive board would have had a copy of Ryan Tubridy's contract. How many of the witnesses would have been aware of Ryan Tubridy's contract? Was Mr. Lynch aware of his contract?

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

Malcolm Byrne: Even though you were the one who was charged with ensuring how many hours Ryan Tubridy was on air, and you had to have complete knowledge of all of that, you did not know what was in Ryan Tubridy's contract.

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

Malcolm Byrne: Okay but you just knew that aspect of what Ryan Tubridy was expected to do for his contract and not, if you like, what RTÉ was going to pay him.

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

Malcolm Byrne: When did you become aware, as Deputy Brady asked, of the verbal agreement?

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

Malcolm Byrne: In recent-----

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

Malcolm Byrne: Okay.

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

Malcolm Byrne: Then you discovered that detail.

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

Malcolm Byrne: Okay.

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

Malcolm Byrne: Okay.

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

Malcolm Byrne: Was a note attached to the file? Did the director general inform you of this?

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

Malcolm Byrne: Mr. Collins, I appreciate that you only joined RTÉ in 2020 so you would not have been in the room when the negotiation happened. Did your predecessor as chief financial officer inform you as to the nature of the deal that was entered into?

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

Malcolm Byrne: Do you think it would be unusual practice? You are taking over from somebody in a job that-----

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

Malcolm Byrne: You had no awareness of the commercial elements.

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

Malcolm Byrne: I understand from RTÉ's statement that it was made clear that Jim Jennings, one of your colleagues on the executive board, was aware of the agreement with Renault. Did he discuss this with any others on the board? I will ask each of the witnesses.