Ms Deirdre McCarthy:

I will add one more point on the regional studios. On "The Week in Politics" programme, for example, a lot of the time the Deputies will travel the distance but sometimes we are asked, by different politicians, if it can be done from the regional studio, whether it is Donegal or Cork. We actively discourage that. It is not in the politician's interest to be so remote and to be removed from the presenter and the other guests. It is very difficult for the politician at an outside location to engage in the conversation, pick up on points immediately and to have the interaction that goes with panel discussions. Sometimes, we have to go to the regional studio because we need the representation from the party on what is the issue of the week and we need to hear what it will say about it. We have to use the studios in those circumstances. In terms of panel discussions, we try to have as many of the guests in the studio because it is to their advantage to be in there with the presenter.