Questions

310. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport the date on which NewERA furnished advice to his Department regarding the proposed amendment to Regulation 20 of the RTÉ Superannuation Scheme; whether that advice was oral or written; whether it addressed trust law principles, pensions law, member protection, and potential conflicts of interest; and if he will make a statement on the ma…

311. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport the specific criteria being applied by his Department in assessing RTÉ’s proposed amendment to Regulation 20 of the RTÉ Superannuation Scheme, including whether the Department is considering the interests of active members, deferred members and pensioners separately; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21162/26]

312. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport whether his Department has sought from RTÉ a detailed schedule of the categories of expenses proposed to be charged to scheme assets under the proposed amendment to Regulation 20; if so, the categories identified; whether any part of those proposed costs relate to historic, legacy, restructuring or dispute-related expenditure; and if he …

313. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport whether his Department has sought confirmation from RTÉ or the trustees as to whether any retrospective charging of costs to scheme assets is contemplated under the proposed amendment to Regulation 20; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21164/26]

314. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport whether his Department has considered seeking the views of the Pensions Authority on the proposed amendment to Regulation 20 of the RTÉ Superannuation Scheme; if not, the reason; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21165/26]

315. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport whether his Department has considered obtaining independent external legal advice on the proposed amendment to Regulation 20 of the RTÉ Superannuation Scheme since receipt of RTÉ’s request on 14 October 2025; if not, the reason; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21166/26]

316. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport whether the trustees of the RTÉ Superannuation Scheme have provided his Department with any legal opinion, actuarial note, governance memorandum, or member-impact assessment in support of the proposed amendment to Regulation 20; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21167/26]

317. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport whether any deadline, target date, or indicative timeframe has been set by his Department for determining RTÉ’s request of 14 October 2025 to amend Regulation 20 of the RTÉ Superannuation Scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21168/26]

358. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport whether, in light of the proposal by RTÉ to amend regulation 20 of the RTÉ superannuation scheme to permit scheme and trustee expenses to be met from scheme assets, he will now seek independent legal advice regarding the compatibility of such an amendment with trust law principles, pensions legislation and her statutory oversight role un…

359. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport the estimated annual financial impact, as advised to her Department or by NewERA, of the proposed amendment to regulation 20 of the RTÉ superannuation scheme; the categories of expenditure envisaged; whether any retrospective charging of costs to scheme assets has been proposed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15884/26]

360. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport whether the proposal to amend regulation 20 of the RTÉ superannuation scheme has been formally submitted to the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation for consent; if not, the stage currently reached in the statutory approval process; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15885…

361. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport whether, as part of his oversight responsibilities in respect of RTÉ superannuation schemes, his Department has engaged with or received any correspondence from the Pensions Authority concerning the proposed amendment to regulation 20 of the RTÉ superannuation scheme in the past five years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. …

362. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport whether his Department has issued, or intends to issue, any policy guidance to RTÉ regarding the protection of pension scheme assets from being used, directly or indirectly, to offset operational or legacy costs of the broadcaster; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15887/26]

393. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport whether she was informed of any proposal by RTÉ to alter the use, governance, or charging structure of the RTÉ defined benefit pension scheme; the date on which she was so informed; the nature of any consent sought or given; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11368/26]

394. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport the oversight mechanisms in place within her Department to ensure that pension assets accrued for the benefit of contributors are not used, directly or indirectly, to offset operational or legacy costs of a public service broadcaster; and whether those mechanisms were engaged in relation to RTÉ in the past five years. [11369/26]

395. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport whether her Department has sought or received any legal advice regarding the permissibility of charging broadcaster costs to a pension scheme sponsored by a public body; and if so, whether she will outline the conclusions reached.; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11370/26]

396. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport whether she accepts that any perception of interference with pension funds undermines public confidence in RTÉ governance; and what steps she is taking to ensure transparency and accountability in the broadcaster’s treatment of deferred pay and pension obligations. [11371/26]