Mr. Conor Mullen:

Please hear me out. In advertising, we have two people who clear all of the advertising that goes across radio and television. Every single commercial message that goes out across RTÉ radio and RTÉ television has to go through the clearance committee. We have to make sure the ads that are there are legal, decent, truthful and honest and protect our audience.

In terms of the Deputy’s question regarding the sponsorship committee, it is absolutely essential that there are editorial people there because they have a say in terms of saying, “Is this suitable?” We have listed very clear sponsorship guidelines on our website as to what is suitable and what is not. Similarly, with regard to product placement, and Coimisiún na Meán measures us in this way, the measurement and the bar in terms of adherence to code is raised each time, so as you get closer to the content sponsorship, the bar is higher, and as you get into the content, product placement is higher again. Product placement is very heavily restricted. Product placement has to go through an approval process as well. It is very clear and I am at pains outlining this to people. It is really important that it is clear and transparent to our audience with regard to any kind of messaging like that. I am constantly telling people they must avoid thematic placement.