Terry Leyden (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I know the Minister is in favour of supporting local radio and the licence fee. Local radio is under pressure regarding current affairs, news, sport and the Irish language. If there was an increase in the licence fee, it would put the Minister in a stronger position to provide support.

In the context of equal pay for equal work in RTE, the Minister requested that the pay scales of different broadcasters be disclosed. They have been announced and the disparity between broadcasters’ salaries has been clearly identified. When one watches television or listens to the radio, the quality of broadcasters is as good as any. It is wrong for a national broadcasting organisation not to have equal pay for equal work. It is quite extraordinary. It would be like having two Deputies being paid different rates. It would be unacceptable. When a national broadcaster has a policy-----