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

I welcome the BAI. This is a fundamental issue. When one examines and tries to define public service broadcasting and when one examines the differences between RTE and the independent radio stations and broadcasters, one finds they are all providing a service in current affairs or sport, some better than others. Funding is a major issue. Over 90% of the licence fee goes to RTE and it has 50% of the commercial revenue, yet it has a funding issue. Independent broadcasters such as local radio stations and independent television companies survive solely on the commercial market. One scratches one's head and asks why we have to subsidise to this level. We constantly have the same argument. With all due respect, it is almost as if we must preserve the status quo of RTE at all costs.

The funding is to be changed and that legislation will be published shortly. There must be a fundamental look at the value for money. We have all seen, in various reports that have come before this committee and elsewhere, information about the cutbacks in the State broadcaster. Are the witnesses satisfied that further efficiencies can be achieved in that organisation before they decide on the level of funding? Will State funding or the licence fee, in whatever form it is collected, be kept to RTE and the minutes it can offer for commercial revenue reduced? Independent broadcasters are under serious pressure and provide as good a public broadcasting service, and perhaps better regarding some aspects of society. Would it be better to dispense the licence fee or transmission charge properly to ensure these independent stations have a future?

It is very difficult in the commercial market. Everything seems to be stacked in favour of the State broadcaster, which seems to be running huge deficits. The independent operators are running on shoestrings but are still making do. What is the difference? The witnesses will refer to the legislation, but in layman's terms they are all providing an excellent public broadcasting service irrespective of whether they are State-owned.