Mr. Jeremy Godfrey:

I will certainly share some thoughts. Ms Craig has worked in the area a long time and others of us are new to broadcasting regulation but we were all very shocked by what happened at RTÉ. However, I was quite struck by the fact that everybody said at the time that RTÉ news was playing an absolute blinder reporting on it.

It shows that the core trust in the journalism of RTÉ is still there, so there is something to build on. As Ms Craig said, it is really a question of culture and governance in RTÉ. That needs to be improved. The only people who can take action to improve culture and governance are the board and the director general. The work this committee has done in scrutinising RTÉ has given them a great incentive to improve things. The Minister's reviews will also be helpful. As Ms Craig also said, we have a role in that. We definitely want to see RTÉ restore trust. We definitely want to see the future funding and oversight arrangements support a strategy for public service broadcasting that is fit for the digital age. It is not just about broadcasting. It is about the online presence of RTÉ and TG4 being where the audience is, as well as through traditional means. We see all of that as important. We think there needs to be consensus about what the purpose of public service broadcasters is, and what the funding requirements are, which is where we play a big role. I also think it would be desirable, as the Future of Media Commission recommended, for there to be some certainty about funding in the medium term so the broadcasters can plan and execute their strategies. Those are all important things.

In terms of what the committee can do to support, I say it should just keep holding us to account and hold the broadcasters to account.