Mr. Declan McBennett:

The honest answer at this stage is "No". There will be a review of GAAGO at the end of the year. I mentioned earlier that three charges have been laid against RTÉ and GAAGO that I do not think are right. I am clear there is one problem regarding GAAGO and four issues that it must address. The problem that GAAGO has and will continue to have is one of access. This goes directly to the heart of the point made by the Senator. People who have good broadband have a good experience of GAAGO, while those who do not have a poor experience. The question of access is the key critical question for GAAGO in future. I respectfully suggest this is not an issue directly for RTÉ, the GAA or GAAGO. It is a wider societal issue concerning government and the roll-out of the national broadband policy, etc.

To respond directly to the Senator's question as to whether there have been considerations in this regard, the answer is "No". As Mr. Ryan indicated, we are listening and open to hearing what suggestions are made in respect of future accessibility. The three key measures we are taking are making access free to care homes, offering a cheap and competitive rate of €150 for GAA clubs and offering commercial outlets a rate of €300. This approach was designed to try to assist those who may not have access to the quality of broadband the Senator spoke of.