Mr. Michael O'Keeffe:

Yes, taking into account the European approval of the scheme, the emphasis was on not restricting it simply to Irish broadcasters and that the themes of the programmes should be accessible to all. One of the qualifying criteria is that the channel must be available on a free-to-air basis across the Twenty-six Counties. We have applications from Northern Ireland broadcasters, as indeed the Northern Ireland Irish language broadcasting fund has applications from this jurisdiction. There are a couple of examples. The award is made to an independent producer who has made an arrangement with a particular broadcaster. In terms of a recently funded drama, the "Quirke" project will be broadcast on BBC Northern Ireland and also on RTE. The important issue in that regard is that the project is made in Ireland with the involvement of two independent production companies. The series is being made, filmed and shot in Ireland and provides employment here. We do not restrict Northern Ireland broadcasters from competing for this programming, provided that it is available across the Thirty-two Counties, as it is in the cases outlined, and provided it fits the themes of the scheme. The money does not go to the BBC. It goes to the producer.