Results 1,821-1,840 of 3,777 for speaker:Marc Ó Cathasaigh
- Public Accounts Committee: Appropriation and Expenditure of Public Moneys by RTÉ: Discussion (29 Jun 2023)
Marc Ó Cathasaigh: My question then, and it may not be to Ms Geraldine O'Leary, is whether Renault was aware of the underwriting agreement.
- Public Accounts Committee: Appropriation and Expenditure of Public Moneys by RTÉ: Discussion (29 Jun 2023)
Marc Ó Cathasaigh: Was Renault aware that if it removed itself from this contract, RTÉ was left on the hook for the remainder of the payments?
- Public Accounts Committee: Appropriation and Expenditure of Public Moneys by RTÉ: Discussion (29 Jun 2023)
Marc Ó Cathasaigh: Was there anybody who would demur from that position, who would suggest that Renault was aware of the underwriting? No. Were there any exit penalties for Renault, which was asked to enter into this contract? It would be fairly standard practice and procedure that if somebody exited a contract before end of time, there would be exit penalties attached.
- Public Accounts Committee: Appropriation and Expenditure of Public Moneys by RTÉ: Discussion (29 Jun 2023)
Marc Ó Cathasaigh: It entered into a contract over a number of years.
- Public Accounts Committee: Appropriation and Expenditure of Public Moneys by RTÉ: Discussion (29 Jun 2023)
Marc Ó Cathasaigh: And decided to end the relationship.
- Public Accounts Committee: Appropriation and Expenditure of Public Moneys by RTÉ: Discussion (29 Jun 2023)
Marc Ó Cathasaigh: Okay, but without the additional element. It does not seem there was a great deal of protection for public funding on it. I want to take a look at the suspension of Ms Dee Forbes. The request for resignation happened first - we only found this out yesterday. It happened on Friday, 16 June if I am correct. Can Ms Anne O'Leary tell me whether I am correct in saying the recommendation that...
- Public Accounts Committee: Appropriation and Expenditure of Public Moneys by RTÉ: Discussion (29 Jun 2023)
Marc Ó Cathasaigh: Was the recommendation to suspend also a recommendation that you brought?
- Public Accounts Committee: Appropriation and Expenditure of Public Moneys by RTÉ: Discussion (29 Jun 2023)
Marc Ó Cathasaigh: Then it became a board decision both to ask for the resignation but also to initiate the suspension. Is that correct?
- Public Accounts Committee: Appropriation and Expenditure of Public Moneys by RTÉ: Discussion (29 Jun 2023)
Marc Ó Cathasaigh: This is a decision with very significant implications. As a board member, when this was brought to the board, what was the rationale given for initiating these proceedings? The board must have been told, "We are recommending that we ask for her resignation and we are asking for that on these grounds." What were the grounds given?
- Public Accounts Committee: Appropriation and Expenditure of Public Moneys by RTÉ: Discussion (29 Jun 2023)
Marc Ó Cathasaigh: That was it, it was as baldly stated as that, based on the findings of the Grant Thornton report.
- Public Accounts Committee: Appropriation and Expenditure of Public Moneys by RTÉ: Discussion (29 Jun 2023)
Marc Ó Cathasaigh: Very good. Thank you. I want to ask about the barter account, which has been much discussed. The value of transactions in and out is given to us in some of the details we have here. How many trading partners are represented within that barter account?
- Public Accounts Committee: Appropriation and Expenditure of Public Moneys by RTÉ: Discussion (29 Jun 2023)
Marc Ó Cathasaigh: Yes.
- Public Accounts Committee: Appropriation and Expenditure of Public Moneys by RTÉ: Discussion (29 Jun 2023)
Marc Ó Cathasaigh: Would there be any credit or debit cards attached to the barter account?
- Public Accounts Committee: Appropriation and Expenditure of Public Moneys by RTÉ: Discussion (29 Jun 2023)
Marc Ó Cathasaigh: Not that you are aware of.
- Public Accounts Committee: Appropriation and Expenditure of Public Moneys by RTÉ: Discussion (29 Jun 2023)
Marc Ó Cathasaigh: In terms of the type of expenditure that-----
- Public Accounts Committee: Appropriation and Expenditure of Public Moneys by RTÉ: Discussion (29 Jun 2023)
Marc Ó Cathasaigh: It is about how it operates, whether there are credit cards. It is about transparency and having a good insight on how exactly this is being used. Is it also being used to fund things like travel? Is it being used to fund things like entertainment? What is the mechanism? What is the oversight mechanism in terms of making sure, if it is funding travel, for instance, or accommodation or...
- Public Accounts Committee: Appropriation and Expenditure of Public Moneys by RTÉ: Discussion (29 Jun 2023)
Marc Ó Cathasaigh: Just in terms of bare figures, €150,000 is what ends up being paid to Tuttle Productions Limited., which is the two tranches of €75,000. The transfer from the barter account, however, is €231,000. Correct me if I am wrong.
- Public Accounts Committee: Appropriation and Expenditure of Public Moneys by RTÉ: Discussion (29 Jun 2023)
Marc Ó Cathasaigh: Where is the €81,000?
- Public Accounts Committee: Appropriation and Expenditure of Public Moneys by RTÉ: Discussion (29 Jun 2023)
Marc Ó Cathasaigh: This is all very opaque. In the end of the story here, has €150,000 in fact cost us €231,000?
- Public Accounts Committee: Appropriation and Expenditure of Public Moneys by RTÉ: Discussion (29 Jun 2023)
Marc Ó Cathasaigh: I am not sure I fully accept that answer. I want to pick up on a statement by Mr. Lynch. At the very end of his opening statement, he said: "I have spoken to Kevin Bakhurst last night and I understand from him that his first task when he begins on 10 July will be a complete reconstitution of the executive board of RTÉ." That is a very significant statement. I want to give Mr. Lynch...