Mr. Alan Esslemont:

Gabhaim buíochas leis an Teachta. There are two key questions for the future public service media in Ireland and these are funding and findability. Funding is key and we have already pointed out that the funding model is monolithic. If we are to get diversity and plurality we need to change that funding model. Funds are part of it but we also need to look at the funding of TG4 and of Screen Ireland.

TG4 came on air, in my reading of it, as a de minimissettlement. Basically, the State did the least it could to get it over the line. That has not really changed. Breandán Ó hEithir said almost 45 years ago that the heart of the State is with English. That was shown year in, year out and that is the message given to the communities that speak Irish. The Irish language is more than just a genre. I praise Michael O’Keeffe, who is retiring, because the BAI has an Irish language ethos.That needs to be renewed and strengthened within the new media commission in its approach to the Irish language. I agree totally with Mr. Coveney and we are on one voice about this new levy fund. The creation of Irish intellectual property is key to going forward. It cannot be just about the biggies coming in, doing stuff here, and taking their intellectual property back to England or America.