Tá ceist simplí agam. Cén uair a bheidh Coimisinéir Teanga nua ceaptha ag an Rialtas? Sin cheist thar a bheith simplí. Tuigim an stair agus chomh tábhachtach is atá ról an choimisinéara. Tháinig sé os comhair Choiste na Gaeilge, na Gaeltachta agus Phobal Labhartha na Gaeilge go mion minic agus rinne sé agus a fhoireann obair na gcapall go leanúnach. Arís, cén uair a bheidh coimisinéir nua ceaptha ag an Rialtas?

Bíonn céimeanna faoi leith le tógáil i gcónaí i dtaca le próiseas earcaíochta. Bhí curtha in iúl go sonrach cheana féin go dtógfadh an próiseas thart ar trí mhí ó thús go deireadh ach tá sé tugtha le fios ag an tSeirbhís um Cheapacháin Phoiblí go raibh na hagallaimh deiridh le tarlú ar an 12 Iúil agus go mbeadh na torthaí ar eolas faoin lá dár gcionn. Is dea-scéal é gan amhras. Mar a dúirt mé, cuirfear moladh maidir leis an té ata le ceapadh faoi bhráid an Rialtais ar dtús agus ansin cuirfear faoi bhráid Uachtaráin…

Go raibh maith agat. As a public body established by statute, the role of RTÉ is as set out in the relevant legislation, the Broadcasting Act, 2009. However, since its former establishment through the Broadcasting Authority Act 1960, RTÉ has been dual funded through the television licence fee and through commercial income which has historically been pursued through the sale of advertising and sponsorship. This is recognised in legislation. Section 114 of the Broadcasting Act 2009 sets out the objects of RTÉ, first,…

Ba mhaith liom mo bhuíochas a ghabháil leis na Teachtaí as ucht an deis seo a thabhairt dúinn plé a dhéanamh ar chúrsaí infheistíochta sa bpeil. I am glad to have the opportunity to discuss this important sport in the Dáil, and I assure Members that the Government recognises the importance of investment in football as one of the key participation sports in Ireland. Football is the beautiful game, and a sport which I know is very close to Deputy Ó Ríordáin’s heart. That was very evident from his passionate delivery …

Cuirim fáilte roimh an deis seo labhairt le Seanad Éireann ar an mBille seo. I dtosach baire ba mhaith liorn aitheantas a thabhairt don méid oibre atá déanta ag an Seanadóir Mullen ar an mBille. I welcome the opportunity to speak to Seanad Éireann on this Bill. I wish to begin by acknowledging the work that Senator Mullen has done on it. Before addressing the substance of the Bill, I take the opportunity to reiterate what I said in the Lower House yesterday and address some of the further revelations we have heard …

I think I am okay. As I said yesterday, a remuneration cap may well be considered within the scope of the review of contractor fees, HR and other matters. The terms of reference of this review are to examine oversight and mechanisms by which RTÉ engages presenters and contractors. This includes fees, the use of agents, the impact and costs borne by RTÉ and the governance of same. The review will also examine issues arising from the use of short term employment contracts at all levels. Furthermore it will examine em…

Fáiltím roimh an deis seo labhairt leis an Teach faoi na mór-theipeanna rialachais chorparáidigh a tháinig chun solais in RTÉ le coicís anuas. Luaigh mé an ról ríthábhachtach atá ag craolachán seirbhíse poiblí a fheidhmíonn go láidir agus a d’fheidhmigh go héifeachtach chun an daonlathas a chosaint cúpla uair ó tháinig na cúrsaí uafásacha seo chun cinn. Is fiú béim a leagan air arís ag tús an ráitis seo áfach, agus ar urlár an Tí. I welcome this opportunity to address the House on the serious corporate governance f…

Gabhaim buíochas leis na Teachtaí as a gcuid ráiteas tráthnóna inniu. Léiríonn an suaitheadh a cuireadh in iúl agus an díospóireacht fhorleathan ar an ábhar seo le coicís anuas, lena n-áirítear sa Teach inniu, an leibhéal imní agus go deimhin, feirge, atá ar dhaoine faoi na teipeanna i rialachas agus i gcultúr RTÉ a chuir ar chumas na rudaí seo tarlú. I thank the Deputies for their statements this afternoon. The shock expressed and the widespread debate on this matter over the past two weeks, including in the House…

I will go back to my officials and look at that. I am just not sure if this is the right place for it-----

-----but I will look at it and come back to the Deputy on that.

A number of Deputies mentioned the role of the Comptroller and Auditor General. As Deputy Connolly rightly pointed out, the current Broadcasting Act and the Comptroller and Auditor General (Amendment) Act 1993 would need to be amended to send the Comptroller and Auditor General in to audit RTÉ. This could well be a recommendation of the report as part of the examination that is being done or the interim report of the expert governance advisory committee. I would be open to considering that and bringing that for dis…

The arrival of refugees from the war in Ukraine, combined with the high number of international protection applicants, has resulted in the largest humanitarian effort in the State's history. The national response to this challenge is underpinned by an all-of-government approach. As part of this effort, Ireland is now accommodating more than 83,520 people, compared with 8,300 in February 2022. This is equivalent to the population of Galway city and serviced accommodation within the tourism sector, primarily hotels, …

My focus now is on examining whether there is a need for mitigation measures. At a senior officials group, my Department has communicated the potential challenges arising for the tourism ecosystem, particularly in the parts of the country where, as the Deputy pointed out, a high proportion of the tourism accommodation stock has been directed to humanitarian purposes. This is the largest humanitarian effort in the State's history. We are giving refuge to those fleeing horrific circumstances, and that is the right th…

I need to be, have been and am raising my concerns about the wider tourism ecosystem, but it is only right that we give refuge to those who need it. This time last year, we were giving refuge to 8,300 people. That number is now approximately 83,500. This brings its own challenges. It is the largest humanitarian effort in the history of the State. I am considering mitigation measures that might be needed. Any mitigation measure must be underpinned by clear data and a full understanding of the issues arising. This is…

The Deputy will forgive me. When I saw her question on financial supports for sustainable policies, I thought she was referring to the greening of tourism, but she is also referring to possible mitigation measures for the wider tourism ecosystem. I addressed the issue of mitigation measures when replying to Deputy Munster, so I will discuss sustainable tourism practices. The Department has been undertaking important work to ensure that tourism plays its part in achieving our climate targets. In 2023, I secured addi…

Absolutely. I have said here and to my colleagues that I have concerns about that knock-on impact to businesses. Some of those in the hospitality sector are under the remit of the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Deputy Coveney, with whom I co-chair the tourism and hospitality forum. These are issues that will come to us in the coming weeks but I am sure he too, like myself, is probably looking at those challenges and how we can put mitigation measures in support. Anecdotal evidence of early impacts o…

I again commend communities the length and breadth of the country on giving that céad míle fáilte to those fleeing from such horrific circumstances. While people always have a right to peaceful protest, those fleeing such horrific circumstances also have a very much equal right to peacefully adapt to their new communities, where they are seeking refuge. On the Deputy's concerns, if we look back to what we did during the Covid pandemic, such as the continuity supports we put in for strategic tourism businesses, ther…

The basic income for artists, BIA, pilot scheme has been introduced following extensive consultation with the arts sector to assess how such a scheme can best support professional arts practice in Ireland. The associated research programme will capture data on all aspects of the scheme to inform future policy responses to the needs of the sector. This will include the interaction of the €325 per week payment with social welfare supports, which are a matter for the Department of Social Protection. Feedback on the sc…

As I said, I assure the Deputy that the issue of disabled artists participating in the BIA scheme was and is a matter I take very seriously. Issues around the disability allowance are something my officials and I were aware of at the very outset of planning this intervention. I understand how important the social welfare payments, and issues such as medical cards, are for people with disabilities but, that being said, I have no statutory function regarding those issues. There was stakeholder engagement and I was de…

These issues relate primarily to the manner in which the social welfare schemes assess income from other sources. These matters are an issue for the Minister for Social Protection under the various chapters of the Social Welfare Consolidation Act 2005. As I said, I believe that the value of the research programme associated with this scheme is that it will capture the experience of all participants, including those with disabilities, and point to any adjustments which may be required for future supports. The intera…