Rambling attacks on RTÉ executives could damage reputation of joint committee structure

Some of current process of questioning RTÉ executives and where it has gone has been is grossly unfair, and TDs should know better.

Independent TD Peter Fitzpatrick questions RTÉ executives at the Oireachtas joint committee on tourism, culture, arts, sport and media on July 5, 2023. Picture: Oireachtas TV

Given the frankly mortifying histrionics by some elected representatives, and their ill-fitting inclusion as adequate interrogators of transparency and truth, both the media committee and Public Accounts Committee are entering very dangerous waters.

If last week’s swanking and swaggering were anything to go by, Tuesday’s hearings with Ryan Tubridy and his agent Noel Kelly have the potential to detonate the fast-declining reputation of the Oireachtas joint committee structure.