Michael Moynihan (Cork North West, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the witnesses and those in the gallery to the committee. I congratulate the members of the Independent Broadcasters of Ireland on what they have achieved in the past 25 years. It was a challenging time, and many fine radio stations, as mentioned by Mr. Purcell, have set up a service. We can all name the ones in our own areas. They have a proud record of broadcasting on political, sporting and civic life. There is not a home they do not go into. Given the starting base they had, they are to be congratulated on reaching the milestone of 25 years. I say very well done to them, because much work has gone into all the radio stations to bring them to their current level.

Mr. Purcell is correct in the points he made in his presentation. We are at a crossroads and decision making is required. I looked at the figures over the past two years in particular. On the one side there is the national broadcaster, which receives significant funding from the licence fee, or broadcasting charge, as it will shortly become. On the other side are the independent radio stations and other independent networks, including television, but we are focusing on radio today. Independent radio stations have built themselves up on a commercial level. They fought for their business and they provide what the market wants. Difficult decisions were required in recent years when advertising revenues fell. We could talk for hours about the benefit.

I suppose the IBI has considered how licence revenue should be divvied up in the context of the new broadcasting legislation. Will the delegates expand on section 108 of the 2009 Act which gives a commercial mandate to RTE? The IBI is celebrating 25 years, which is to be marked at a reception later. We need to think about the revenue from the licence fee and determine who is giving best value for money. We have had many discussions with RTE. There are large background teams associated with some programmes of the national broadcaster, but, where some independent programmes are concerned, there is only one broadcaster and perhaps a background team of one or two. The independent broadcasters are providing the service with a skeleton staff. Will the delegates outline their position on section 108 of the 2009 Act to empower us in deciding on our approach?

I congratulate the delegates on a massive job well done. I am delighted Mr. Williams is present. I hope to God that when we celebrate another anniversary, the delegates will be able to say the same again. I congratulate all of them sincerely on what they have achieved. Here is to the next 25 years.