Irish paintings and RTÉ
The discussion shifted to the sale of Irish paintings held by RTÉ, with Senator Leyden arguing they should be publicly displayed in the National Gallery rather than sold through Sotheby's.
Is there a painting of the Senator there?
Comment on this
He will do better than some of his Fianna Fáil colleagues on some of the programmes. He should be out there more often.
Comment on this
I do not particularly want to be out there. My point is that I would prefer it if the public had a right to see these artworks in the National Gallery instead of them being stuck out in RTÉ where nobody can see them. They are now going to Sotheby's in London, a British company, to be sold instead of going to Irish companies. It is outrageous. RTÉ is losing its way. I am member of the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Communications, Climate Action and Environment, which the chief executive of RTÉ will appear before in due course. RTÉ is short of funds, but by God, it is fairly spending them.