Paschal Mooney (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

One way it could be done immediately would be by removing the levy and having it absorbed by the licence fee. In the case of Ocean FM with whom, too declare an interest, I do my programme, it costs €30,000 per year, a sum which would create employment. Not only that, the Minister knows as I do that the most labour intensive aspect of broadcasting is news, current affairs and sport. Therefore, Sound & Vision, which started off as a great concept, is now helping the independent production sector and RTE, but is not helping the local radio sector. I appreciate that is an important sector which should not be touched, which is why I suggest that the Minister looks at some way to finance news, current affairs and sport at local level to make it more attractive.