Ms Moya Doherty:

I thank Deputy Colreavy. In regard to his first question on media monopolies, RTE is very heavily regulated. The Broadcasting Authority of Ireland - some of my colleagues from the authority are in this room today - regulates RTE along with the Department, so I think we are well covered to ensure we remain independent.

In regard to development of new talent, I have worked in this sector all my life and I know how precarious it is. I admire those who exist in an area of the creative industries where there is no pension and no security of employment, where they must travel to where the work is and where the contracts are short. The role of the board will be to ensure training. Training is hugely important and perhaps when the economy was so poor, there was no funding for training. I hope that now, RTE will be able to put training systems in place for new talent to come through the system, because it takes time. One must learn the skills of presenting, of making television programmes and of editing. If one can work alongside the experienced, then one will learn more quickly. I hope training will be part of what I will look at as chair of the board of RTE.