Results 181-200 of 7,729 for speaker:Imelda Munster

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Television Licence Fee (15 Feb 2024)

Imelda Munster: 12. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht given that she has previously expressed a preference for direct Exchequer funding to replace the television licence, if she can provide an update on any correspondence, communications or meetings she has had with her Government colleagues in this regard; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6921/24]

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Semi-State Bodies (15 Feb 2024)

Imelda Munster: 1. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht her views on the two reports recently commissioned and published at RTÉ on Toy Show The Musical and the voluntary exit programme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7245/24]

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Semi-State Bodies (15 Feb 2024)

Imelda Munster: I ask the Minister for her views on the two reports recently commissioned and published by RTÉ on Toy Show The Musicaland the voluntary exit programme and if she will make a statement.

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Semi-State Bodies (15 Feb 2024)

Imelda Munster: First, I have to say that again I submitted a question to the Minister around bogus self-employment at RTÉ and once again, it was rejected. I am running out of ways to word the question in the hope that the Minister will actually answer it. I see that she met Mr. Bakhurst in the last couple of weeks and she also met the unions, which would suggest that it is something that comes under...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Semi-State Bodies (15 Feb 2024)

Imelda Munster: Yesterday, the director of HR who was responsible for putting through that exit package, which came in at a cost of just under €500,000 to the taxpayers, appeared at the committee. The director of HR put through the procedure with that exit package, knowing that it did not meet the criteria and knowing full well it broke the rules and was not compliant with the scheme. That person...

Joint Committee on Tourism, Culture, Arts, Sport And Media: Transparency of RTÉ Expenditure of Public Funds and Governance Issues: Discussion (Resumed) (14 Feb 2024)

Imelda Munster: Thanks, Chair, and I would appreciate a little bit of latitude. I will start with the exit packages and address Ms Cusack, the head of HR. In her opening statement she stated a separate and confidential arrangement was entered into between the former DG and the former CFO. That was not normal, I take it, to have a separate and confidential agreement.

Joint Committee on Tourism, Culture, Arts, Sport And Media: Transparency of RTÉ Expenditure of Public Funds and Governance Issues: Discussion (Resumed) (14 Feb 2024)

Imelda Munster: So you knew something was not right with that and you said, more or less, you took Dee Forbes at her word and were happy enough to-----

Joint Committee on Tourism, Culture, Arts, Sport And Media: Transparency of RTÉ Expenditure of Public Funds and Governance Issues: Discussion (Resumed) (14 Feb 2024)

Imelda Munster: Which would not have been normal.

Joint Committee on Tourism, Culture, Arts, Sport And Media: Transparency of RTÉ Expenditure of Public Funds and Governance Issues: Discussion (Resumed) (14 Feb 2024)

Imelda Munster: You took her at her word that the 80% would be made up, so you let it go and did not flag it with management.

Joint Committee on Tourism, Culture, Arts, Sport And Media: Transparency of RTÉ Expenditure of Public Funds and Governance Issues: Discussion (Resumed) (14 Feb 2024)

Imelda Munster: You had no reason not to trust her - fair enough. When it transpired the exit package was not compliant with the scheme and you were fully aware of that, you still went ahead and implemented it. You did not flag it. You knew the rules had been broken but did not raise it with management of any description.

Joint Committee on Tourism, Culture, Arts, Sport And Media: Transparency of RTÉ Expenditure of Public Funds and Governance Issues: Discussion (Resumed) (14 Feb 2024)

Imelda Munster: Yes, but further on, when you were given the instruction, as you said in your opening statement, to go ahead with the scheme, you knew at that stage there was no possible chance of the 80% savings being made because the new CFO was being instated and the role had not been suppressed. You knew all that.

Joint Committee on Tourism, Culture, Arts, Sport And Media: Transparency of RTÉ Expenditure of Public Funds and Governance Issues: Discussion (Resumed) (14 Feb 2024)

Imelda Munster: Do not play with words. You knew at that stage what you were being asked to sign off on was not correct but you did it.

Joint Committee on Tourism, Culture, Arts, Sport And Media: Transparency of RTÉ Expenditure of Public Funds and Governance Issues: Discussion (Resumed) (14 Feb 2024)

Imelda Munster: You knew there was something wrong with that instruction. It did not sit comfortably with you. Even if you had given the benefit of the doubt initially, it was now in black and white that procedures were not being followed and rules were being broken, yet you signed off on it.

Joint Committee on Tourism, Culture, Arts, Sport And Media: Transparency of RTÉ Expenditure of Public Funds and Governance Issues: Discussion (Resumed) (14 Feb 2024)

Imelda Munster: You are the head of HR so it was your responsibility to make sure in your department things were done right, rules were not broken, procedures were adhered to and schemes were not cut up for individuals. That was your job as director of human resources. Am I correct in saying that?

Joint Committee on Tourism, Culture, Arts, Sport And Media: Transparency of RTÉ Expenditure of Public Funds and Governance Issues: Discussion (Resumed) (14 Feb 2024)

Imelda Munster: No, you said it in your opening statement. That is what I am referring to. We are talking about this package where rules were broken, things were overlooked and you as head of HR did not flag it with management.

Joint Committee on Tourism, Culture, Arts, Sport And Media: Transparency of RTÉ Expenditure of Public Funds and Governance Issues: Discussion (Resumed) (14 Feb 2024)

Imelda Munster: Okay. You also said this type of single-line approval could not happen now but it was not supposed to happen then either. It was supposed to have board approval.

Joint Committee on Tourism, Culture, Arts, Sport And Media: Transparency of RTÉ Expenditure of Public Funds and Governance Issues: Discussion (Resumed) (14 Feb 2024)

Imelda Munster: No, there is a board. That is what I keep asking. You did not flag it with anyone else in management or with the board.

Joint Committee on Tourism, Culture, Arts, Sport And Media: Transparency of RTÉ Expenditure of Public Funds and Governance Issues: Discussion (Resumed) (14 Feb 2024)

Imelda Munster: It was supposed to happen then and did not, and you are in part responsible for that because you were aware of it, part of it and involved in it but did not flag it up with anybody.