Michael Colreavy (Sligo-North Leitrim, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I thank the witnesses for coming before us. I always think of public service broadcasting in national, regional and local terms. There are different levels and good public service broadcasting at national level is different from that at local level because they involve different levels of detail. It is informative that Mr. Collins says the legislation directs BAI's support for RTE and TG4 because there may be a view within the Department that local radio stations are similar to local newspapers and they are independent and for profit but the difference is independent radio has a public service obligation that newspapers do not. This needs to be examined but given oversight is legislatively based, it should be done by politicians rather than the BAI.

The report states: "The station cannot do any more under its current operational model." Does the authority have power to examine the operational models of RTE, TG4 and independent broadcasters with respect to public service broadcasting obligations? For example, if RTE was to decide to set up a dedicated sports channel or children's channel, would the BAI have an input into, or power over, those choices? What about the lower levels of the general operation model of these stations?

I had not thought too much about the sound and vision fund until my local station, Ocean FM, the Glen Centre in Manorhamilton, Donal O'Kelly and many good people in the local community got together and produced a wonderful drama called "Francisco", which won a major European drama award. It was a tremendous example of the potential of local radio and local people getting together to produce something of which we can all be proud. We need to re-examine the criteria for this fund to encourage such local collaboration. Perhaps the 7% limit on the fund should be increased.

Other issues include the arrival of UTV in the Irish market and a ban on alcohol advertisement before a certain time at night. Has the BAI factored in the impact that will have on advertising revenue for local and national broadcasters?

DCTV is about to wind down its operations and will cease transmission next year. Under the Broadcasting Act 2009, the authority is obliged to devise funding schemes to support the development of community broadcasting. Has the authority fulfilled this obligation given the reduction in funding to DCTV and the announcement that it will cease transmission next year?