RTÉ back at PAC, Sinn Féin's reunification pitch and Aughinish keeps us in the news around Europe

So let's start with what's been happening today.

And of course, RTE back before the Public Accounts Committee.

Was it as dramatic as it was two years ago, Micheál?

It's not as dramatic, but what you do see is a real, almost very striking difference of opinion on how RTE funding is working in the view of RTE and how it's working in the view of government and opposition TDs.

And it being pointed out by Joe Neville, the Fine Gael TD and Seamus McGrath, you know, fall, both of whom come from a financial background, that the running costs of RT have actually gone up, gone up substantially over the last year.

And they believe that that doesn't really tally with those commitments to make the place more efficient.

Kevin Backer is making the point for RT that this is within what was agreed with government.

It was agreed in the funding and that more is being provided to the audience, whether that's an improved RT player or producing up to four dramas and now thereabouts before.

So there is a difference.

And of course, that is all going to come to a head at some point in the lead into 2028.

And what happens then does that funding model that now comprises three bits at the moment, I suppose, a top up? a licence fee and commercial revenue, does the top up bit of that wane or does it become a key part of things? So that's kind of where a lot of the tension was at.

And you can see that there's there's different views between the political class and RTE on this.

So while From RTE's point of view, there's a three-year deal with the government and nothing has changed.

That's the three-year deal.

On the other hand, licence fee income is continuing to fall.

Costs are continuing to go up.

And there's a difference in the view, I suppose, of what that gap is and also looking forward to 28. what that gap will likely be even more in the future.

And you heard the Director General saying that RT had made a commitment not to ask for more public funding or more direct exchequer funding during this agreement.

But he did make the point that it was highly likely that that would be the trajectory of travel.

Now, the TDs, obviously, as Michal alluded to, not happy around this.

But Kevin Backer saying there was a lot that RT do that... nobody else could do in terms of offering a public service, in terms of investigative journalism and so on.

But TDs as well, they weren't really happy with the reforms put on the table by RTE.

The voluntary exit package came under fire.

Of course, Kevin Backhurst looking to reduce the headcount in RTE by 400 over three years.

only around between 60 and 70 went through that process last year.