Noel Harrington (Cork South West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the representatives of the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland. They mentioned that there are three levels of scrutiny or oversight. The authority is responsible for commercial television. The Minister is responsible for TG4 and RTE. The commercial and local radio stations are governed by statute. Can I take it from what Mr. Collins has said that the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland's view is that this is not sufficient? Would it like the current position to be changed by means of legislation? How would it wish these matters to operate? Would it like to have a greater involvement in the area of RTE and TG4?

The fundamental recommendation made by the authority would involve a gradual increase in the public contribution to RTE, with conditions. If that recommendation is to be accepted, this committee will have to think about where the money might come from. I accept that the authority does not have a role in determining that. Nobody has mentioned the resource opportunities that have been presented to the State on foot of the change from analogue to digital television. It might be cynical to suggest the possibility that the authority is staking out a claim on those resources, to be allocated back into a television station. I could be completely offside on this one. Does Mr. Collins have a view on the matter?

Mr. Collins mentioned that no increase would be appropriate for TG4 and, equally, there is no scope for reducing costs at the station. Is it being suggested, as a corollary of that, that there is further scope for cost reductions in RTE? I would like to hear Mr. Collins's view on that.

I note in the authority's report that legislation is coming forward. We look forward to seeing that. A fundamental economic assessment of the advertising market is also being proposed. That will be a very significant body of work. I understand the authority assisted in the tender process that was done in advance of the economic assessment. What level of work was carried out by the authority to assist in the tender process? Did the authority's document lead to the tender? Was it the authority's tender?