Alex White (Dublin South, Labour) | Oireachtas source

-----that one could consider changing it to better facilitate the commercial sector. We are coming to the end of the lifetime of this Government in any event, so it is not something that will happen between now and next March. I am canvassing possibilities with the committee in answer to the Deputy's question. We could consider how to channel funds to commercial operators, whether that is through the existing sound and vision scheme or a new and similar scheme. Another approach, on the other side of the ledger and as mentioned by Senator Mooney earlier, is to consider funding the regulator directly from the licence fee. That would mean the commercial and public stations would not be paying the levy. They are two practical possibilities. I have discussed the issue with the Independent Broadcasters of Ireland and I am very happy to be party to the discussion.

On the question of salaries, this must be a matter for RTE. We can all have our views and the Deputy has his view. The position relayed to me by RTE is that in circumstances where it is operating in what may not be a purely commercial environment - as noted by Deputy O'Donovan - but in the commercial market for talent, to publish the salaries in real time would undermine the company's position and make it difficult to attract and keep staff. That is the position taken by RTE and related to me. RTE publishes the salaries post facto, and the Deputy is correct in stating that it is done a couple of years down the road. That is the decision made by RTE and I will not second-guess it.