Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party) | Oireachtas source

I thank Ms Forbes for the report. It has been very frustrating for the joint committee because we commissioned a good report which we had hoped would give the Government cover to make some necessary decisions on the funding of all media, not just RTÉ. Our intention was to try to provide support for Irish media because, as we all recognise, local Irish media are under threat as advertising revenues go to largely international organisations. Ms Forbes mentioned the likes of Facebook, Google, Netflix and others in her presentation in that regard. It has been deeply disappointing that the committee and I have been unable to get an answer from the Taoiseach or the former Minister to get a sense of what their response would be. The €8 million allocated in the budget does not provide the funding necessary. Our concerns were added to by the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland echoing its concerns again this year and seemingly being ignored.

Can Ms Forbes give us a figure for projected commercial revenue in 2018? At this stage she must have a sense of what the end of year outcome will be. If it was €151.5 million last year, what is the estimated figure for this year because it will inform the urgency of the political decisions that have to be made. I admit that I was deeply concerned when I saw that there was only €42 million left of the capital windfall. What is the projected further cost of restructuring, given that there has already been a €29.6 million restructuring cost? What will RTÉ's minimum capital investment requirement be? I presume the investment will be in digital technologies and new studios, etc. but can Ms Forbes give me an indication of what the figures are in order that we will have an understanding of the financial position?

On content and strategy, it was interesting to read the EBU's peer to peer review of public service media, PSM, values. It picks up on a concern that RTÉ must have and which would be shared by everyone, namely, that the average age of the audience is 45 years. It signals the need for new channels and a new approach to children's broadcasting. When this issue first arose at the committee, there was controversy about what the future of children's programming would be within the strategic review that was under way. Can Ms Forbes update us on the plans for children's television, radio and other formats?

In the same vein, can Ms Forbes provide an update on what the approach will be to the orchestras? That is another issue about which concern has been aired in public.

Ms Forbes mentioned investment in independent broadcasting. That is why RTÉ is important for the wider creative industries in the country. The budget is down to €40 million. As I remember, that is the basement figure for funding and under the Broadcasting Act 2009, it is not possible to go any lower. I presume that that legislation stipulates that the figure has to be maintained, but if RTÉ runs into further financial difficulties, is that spending at risk?

I have another small question, but it is not insignificant. Ms Forbes mentioned the research reports on GAA rights overseas. Can she give me some indication of how much revenue it is bringing into RTÉ because I have always been of the view that it is part of a continuing trend, whereby the GAA has effectively been privatised, with Sky plc getting the rights and so on. I am interested in receiving from Ms Forbes an indication of the figure, if she can provide it.

On gender equality and equality for all, I was reading all of the figures for pay rates. Can Ms Forbes tell me what sort of family friendly arrangement RTÉ has? Is it possible for workers, be it a mother or a father, to take a sabbatical to work part time, not just because they might be contractors but because there might be a time in their career when they want to spend time with their children? There are many statistics for pay rates, but what flexibility is there for parents within RTÉ?