Ms Dee Forbes:

Driving the industry forward and having a strong creative industries sector in Ireland is very important. Never has the time been so ripe for this to happen because I think we would all agree that we are seeing a resurgence in the quality of broadcast content around the world. We are in a golden era of television, and where else should that be happening to a large degree but here in Ireland? We are a nation of storytellers, we tell great stories and it is a shame that, because of funding, we are not really able to compete on the same level as the likes of Denmark and Israel, which have made really determined and concerted efforts to build that sector, as has the UK. Anything that will help us in this regard is welcome, and we are certainly looking at the matter. At a previous forum for Creative Ireland, I talked about coming up with the need for a contestable fund for Irish drama, for example. We need desperately to invest in that category - and others, by the way - to regenerate activity in it.

Deputy Eamon Ryan's comments about the archive are very timely because this will all come out as part of that strategy, which is in development, and exactly where we intend to go with the archive will come out in September. The archive is hugely important to the strategy. We see the archive's huge value, not just to RTE but also to the nation, so I agree with the Deputy's sentiment that there is more in that. What we must do as part of our strategy is understand how we will fund the archive for the future and deliver that.

Finally, GAAGO, as a commercial entity and a venture we have together with the GAA, is doing pretty well. We would like to see more subscribers around the world but that is really down to people being aware of its availability. It is very strong in places such as the US and Australia. There is absolutely potential for growth but it is a pay proposition, given that it is a rights discussion with the GAA. We have a very good relationship with the GAA. It is something in which we see more potential to bring the national game around the world but it is a commercial enterprise.