Mattie McGrath (Tipperary, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I am delighted to welcome the witnesses. I am interested in there being a level playing field, and there is anything but that now. The bias towards RTÉ should have been gone years ago, but it has not and it is still hanging on. I thank the witnesses from both channels. In respect to TG4, cad a dhéanfaimid feasta gan adhmad? Tír gan teanga, tír gan anam. The station does great work and it is appreciated. I would like to hear about the station's approach to broadcasting in sna Sé Contae. Mr. Farrell might also explain the European models he spoke of earlier, where there is a fairer distribution of funding, because a level playing field is needed. It is ridiculous and scandalous what is going on and the way other sectors are being treated, while RTÉ is the pet boy.

That organisation has certainly done the State some service. As a rural Teachta, however, I am not one bit happy with it for its coverage of rural events. We had an important event during the Covid-19 pandemic some time ago, which was organised by a wonderful publican in Tipperary, T.J. McInerney. RTÉ was due to send people down to cover it, but it pulled out of doing that the night before. The witness's organisation did come down, however, and did an excellent presentation on the event, with hard but fair questions asked. This is what is happening. Rural Ireland is being abandoned. We used to have service and a great correspondent in the south east, Damien Tiernan, but the studio and everything is gone now. It is like most things; everything has been put into Dublin and Montrose. I salute and thank TG4 and Virgin Media for their work, the obair thuirsiúil; it is greatly appreciated agus rinne sé an obair thuirsiúil i gcónaí. Those are the kinds of questions I am interested in, especially the European distribution models and, in respect of TG4, its turas go dtí sna Sé Contae.