Results 1,461-1,480 of 18,741 for speaker:Michael McDowell
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Future Funding of Public Service Broadcasting: Discussion (10 Dec 2019)
Michael McDowell: Ms Forbes referred to renegotiation on renewal. How far away from happening is that?
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Future Funding of Public Service Broadcasting: Discussion (10 Dec 2019)
Michael McDowell: To what percentage will RTÉ agree as a reduction for those people when the renegotiation stage is reached? What is the target? Is it 10%, 20% or 30%?
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Future Funding of Public Service Broadcasting: Discussion (10 Dec 2019)
Michael McDowell: I accept it could be wrong information but it has been suggested to me that the 30% figure, which is a global figure, included one particular person who left the organisation from whom credit was taken while the others were given the benefit of that. Is that correct?
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Future Funding of Public Service Broadcasting: Discussion (10 Dec 2019)
Michael McDowell: If a mega-earner leaves at the top, then the percentage reduction is distorted by that.
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Future Funding of Public Service Broadcasting: Discussion (10 Dec 2019)
Michael McDowell: It is just these percentages.
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Future Funding of Public Service Broadcasting: Discussion (10 Dec 2019)
Michael McDowell: These percentages are easy to talk about. However, at some stage, even in global terms, we should have the actual amount of cash that this programme of renegotiation etc, will actually realise. Can that be done?
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Future Funding of Public Service Broadcasting: Discussion (10 Dec 2019)
Michael McDowell: One settlement has been negotiated. Seven of the top ten people in question are contracted. Does that mean the other three are employees?
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Future Funding of Public Service Broadcasting: Discussion (10 Dec 2019)
Michael McDowell: Are employees the subject of a reduction?
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Future Funding of Public Service Broadcasting: Discussion (10 Dec 2019)
Michael McDowell: I thought the whole staff of RTÉ was getting a cut imposed on it.
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Future Funding of Public Service Broadcasting: Discussion (10 Dec 2019)
Michael McDowell: Ms Forbes agreed with Deputy Cullinane that the decision to put out to tender the television licence fee collection system could be described as either unsustainable or kicking it down the road. I note the Department has stated there are difficulties with using the local property tax model because the landlord is usually the owner and is liable for it. With a bit of thought, the...
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Future Funding of Public Service Broadcasting: Discussion (10 Dec 2019)
Michael McDowell: Is there any reason the committee's report was rejected?
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Future Funding of Public Service Broadcasting: Discussion (10 Dec 2019)
Michael McDowell: The idea that it is too complicated to work out how the Revenue could collect this just does not stand up to reason. There is a Finance Bill every year that deals with loopholes. Massive legislation is composed within months. I suggest this is a deliberate choice not to face up to this issue.
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Future Funding of Public Service Broadcasting: Discussion (10 Dec 2019)
Michael McDowell: On a point of order, I want to clarify that I did not pursue the matter with Ms Cronin because I had forgotten that she is not entitled to speak on the merits of a Government policy. That is why we should have Ministers in here.
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Future Funding of Public Service Broadcasting: Discussion (10 Dec 2019)
Michael McDowell: I just wanted to make that clear.
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Future Funding of Public Service Broadcasting: Discussion (10 Dec 2019)
Michael McDowell: That is another 20,000 votes.
- Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (5 Dec 2019)
Michael McDowell: Following on from Senator Ardagh's concern about gambling and the like, I wish to ask the Leader if he will arrange for the Minister for Justice and Equality, Deputy Flanagan, to discuss the presence of gambling casinos and their operation in Dublin, which is in flagrant contravention of the gaming and lotteries legislation. As I understand it, there will be no relevant amendment and all of...
- Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (5 Dec 2019)
Michael McDowell: This will only take five minutes.
- Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (4 Dec 2019)
Michael McDowell: I welcome the Cathaoirleach back. I would be intrigued to see the changes that have taken place since the photograph to which he referred was taken; we all need to be depressed from time to time. I echo what Senator Gavan said about the remuneration of staff in the Oireachtas. We should be mindful of the issues he has raised. I welcome to the Gallery fifth class pupils from St. Pius X...
- Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (4 Dec 2019)
Michael McDowell: It is the People's Republic of China.
- Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (4 Dec 2019)
Michael McDowell: It is not red anymore.