Malcolm Byrne (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank Ms Doherty and Ms Forbes for their presentations. It is important to acknowledge that, during the Covid period, the news team in RTÉ provided great public sector broadcasting in difficult circumstances. We are consuming much more content at home. I pay tribute to the work being done in the drama sector, which is provided by the independent production companies and RTÉ. It is also important to acknowledge the online school services during that period.

Curiously enough, during the lockdown period, I watched episodes of "Wanderly Wagon", which is on YouTube, with my nephews. It was groundbreaking television and, while I do not call for its return, it is important that we tell those Irish stories for children. Children's television is important to encourage creativity.

The absence of the report of The Future of Media Commission before this discussion is a problem. I hope the witnesses will agree to return to the committee to engage on the report once it has been published. I will speculate to a certain extent. One issue being considered concerns the future funding of RTÉ. In Australia and in other European countries, public sector broadcasting is funded directly from the Exchequer and the licence fee has been abolished. What is the witnesses' view on that? Do they believe RTÉ should move to a publisher-broadcaster model?