Mr. Séamus Dooley:

I will clarify one or two points as well. While there was a pay rise, there was not pay restoration in Independent News and Media. Therefore, regarding the pay cuts, which were suffered, pay has not been restored. It is worth pointing that out.

On Senator Leyden's comments, I would like to make it very clear that my presentation was a considered point and that the notification form allows the committee, the Minister and the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland, BAI, to take into account issues of corporate governance and the failure or otherwise of an applicant to adhere to standards. The issues of not adhering to agreements with the Pensions Authority and of failure to consult pension trustees are legitimate questions for this committee, the BAI and the Minister under the terms of the notification form. The Senator may wish it to be otherwise but that is the reality.

On notification of members, yes, we have consulted all the chapels. The NUJ is rather quaint in that we do not have branches but we have chapels. Deputy Lowry is an Independent Deputy so only has to agree with himself but no more than in the Rural Independent Group or in any other political party, there are people who have different views but the settled view of our chapels is that we should oppose this. Ms Ní Fhlatharta will deal with the issue of our branches. We consulted with our members as recently as yesterday. I am aware that senior members of management have asked our chapels and our individuals to make submissions against the NUJ policy and that they have decided not to do so. They have been put in a particularly difficult position because the people inviting them to do so are their managers now and will be their managers in the future. I understand that there is a strong commitment.

We are all on the one side here. We absolutely want the newspapers to survive. To address Deputy Lowry's comments, by no feat of the imagination can I see how the interests of Celtic Media would be served by closure. I have seen too many business and newspapers close to believe that would be in its best interests. I have huge admiration for the dexterity and financial acumen of Mr. Pitt and Independent News and Media. If this were a basket case and if it were not sustainable, I do not believe that it would be being purchased by Independent News and Media.