Mr. S?amus Dooley:

There are various models throughout Europe which prevent interference. The reality is that RTÉ and TG4 are dependent on State funding and support at present. Depending on one's political views some people may say there is interference but I would say the current funding system has not resulted in interference. At the end of the day, the choice here is the protection of public service broadcasting with all of the values involved in that. The Government has a right to demand that independence criteria are met. The real guarantee of independence is financial viability and that is the challenge which I see at the moment. The European Media Freedom Act stresses the importance of the protection of public service broadcasting. While this is a national committee, it obviously has a European remit as well. What we have to look at is that this measure seeks to protect the principles of public service broadcasting. These principles act as a bulwark against totalitarian regimes and are under grave threat in some other European states. As well as looking at this from a parochial or national interest, we must also look at the ability of the European Media Freedom Act to protect democracies within Europe.