Ms Maggie Breathnach:

On the RTÉ question, I am an independent producer and a lot of my work comes from TG4 and RTÉ. Yes, it puts a significant strain, going to bed every night wondering whether the State broadcaster will be funded going forward. I have projects in the pipeline for 2024 but do I have something for 2025? The short answer is "No". RTÉ is afraid to commit; we could have all the best ideas in the world but if we do not have a commitment that our State broadcaster is funded then everything we are talking about today can go up in smoke. That is the long and the short of it from where I am coming, in the regions, in rural Ireland, producing and directing programmes. Looking at Nemeton and all the students coming out of colleges, I was in that situation 25 years ago. If I thought that the State broadcaster and TG4 were in question I would have thought about what the future looked like for me. As soon as a decision can be made on this, the better for us all to move on. Sin a déarfainn, maidir le sin. I think there are plenty of incredible courses throughout the country. I just think that we need to talk together as companies, regions and institutions to ensure that we all have one mission. That is to come together and to enhance the creativity that is there and to ensure that employment happens within our own areas.

It is my first time sitting here in Teach Laighean and I am amazed by how all the members have their own independent rural agendas. It is lovely to hear because I came up flying the south-east flag. It is lovely to hear someone from the midlands and ó Chorcaigh because it shows that there is-----