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

I know the lie of the land. I live in Manorhamilton, just down the road from Ballyshannon. Dr. Travers has a very impressive CV and I have no doubt that he will be an inspirational chairman of the BAI.

The regulatory function of the BAI is quite well known among the public but the strategy setting function less so, even among politicians. It is good to have the strategy for 2014-16. It will have to be a rolling strategy because as the market and technology change, it will have to be continually updated. I am sure Dr. Travers accepts that. The earlier speaker referred to a reduction of 500 staff and an expenditure reduction of €130 million over the past few years in RTE. I am sure that was not solely because of BAI but because of reduced revenue from advertising and Government. What role, if any, does the BAI have? How is its responsibility for value for money exercised? There is a lot of discussion about media monopolies or dominance by key individuals in the market. What is the BAI’s responsibility for that and how is it discharged?