Results 261-280 of 2,297 for speaker:Fintan Warfield

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

Fintan Warfield: In her opening statement, Ms Ní Raghallaigh said she is deeply unhappy about the evident pattern of inconsistency and lack of completeness in the provision of information to date by the executive. Before her time, RTÉ appeared before the Committee of Public Accounts on five occasions and when it came to bogus self-employment, it seemed to mislead the committee. It is time for our...

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

Fintan Warfield: In terms of the contingent liability that RTÉ may have for those 500 workers, approximately 60% of the examinations by the State had resulted in decisions as of last year. What kind of contingent liability does RTÉ have in place for money that might be owed to Revenue?

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

Fintan Warfield: Does Mr. Collins have a ballpark figure?

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

Fintan Warfield: Yes, it is 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)

Fintan Warfield: If it was €10 million, €20 million or €30 million, it is something that could bankrupt the organisation.

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

Fintan Warfield: I have a question for Ms O'Keeffe. In terms of credit, section 1.12(b) of the Grant Thornton report states: "RTÉ raised a credit in July 2020 of €75,000 with the Commercial Brand [and we know that to be Renault] on their airtime spend so in effect RTÉ funded the €75,000 payment to Talent [whom we know to be Mr. Tubridy]." As I understand it, that is a voucher for...

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

Fintan Warfield: Why was it lower in 2020?

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

Fintan Warfield: In 2020.

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

Fintan Warfield: Yes, it is different from the other amounts.

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

Fintan Warfield: Last week, I called for the publication of the salaries of the top earners across the organisation, not only of presenters. I welcome its publication. Would RTÉ consider publishing the anonymised salaries of the bottom 50 earners across the organisation, in order for people to understand the pay differential and culture in the organisation?

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

Fintan Warfield: I appreciate that. Perhaps someone else might be able to give me clarity on the year 2020. The figure Renault gave to Mr. Tubridy for the other years is €75,000, but the figure listed for 2020 is €56,000. Did Renault get a full credit of €75,000 in 2020, as it did in 2021 and 2022.

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

Fintan Warfield: Transparency is at the heart of this issue. The deep anger felt by the staff is because they feel betrayed by the executive board of RTÉ involved in this deal. Trust can only be rebuilt by a more transparent management culture. I urge the witnesses, rather than publish only the salaries of the top ten on-air presenters, to publish the top 100 salaries across the organisation. Can...

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

Fintan Warfield: It is only right. When the executive board negotiates with staff and unions, the board knows what the staff across the organisation get but the staff do not know what the executive board gets. In some cases, people are on more than the DG. The DG’s salary is in the public domain; the salaries of all the top executives should be published too. I ask Ms O'Leary about the issue of...

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

Fintan Warfield: So it would go through the agent.

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

Fintan Warfield: Can anyone present answer on the editorial appropriateness of that, if it is not for the director of commercial? Is it appropriate for journalists, presenters or correspondents in whatever area of the news to be given cars by sponsors?

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

Fintan Warfield: A private company – an agent – is making big profits representing the vested interests of talent, negotiating their pay, getting them speaking gigs and doing their promotion. When a presenter of a show on the public broadcaster is interviewing a client of the same agent, does that represent a conflict of interest? Are they given favourable treatment by virtue of the fact they...

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

Fintan Warfield: If they are represented by the same agent, should that be made clear? Should there be declarations of interest? Are listeners and viewers entitled to know that?

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

Fintan Warfield: The RTÉ statement yesterday said there was no illegality and payments were made pursuant to an agreed contract. Is RTÉ satisfied that the relationship it has with NK Management is consistent with competition law, with its legal obligations and with best practice in public procurement? Are there grounds for an investigation into the relationship by the Competition and Consumer...

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

Fintan Warfield: Does RTÉ go to any other talent agencies, management companies or individuals not represented by agents when they have an idea for a new project or programme? Does it go out to tender?

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

Fintan Warfield: Yes.