Malcolm Byrne (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

It might be a sign of diminishing numbers. I got Mr. Bakhurst's earlier point about licence fee payment rates being linked to particular committee hearings. To share Senator Dooley's point, things have moved on significantly. Members of the committee will know how difficult it is to transform an organisation. I think the majority of committee members have always felt, as have I, that while we are not going to agree with everything, RTÉ has a critical role in Irish society. As one of the major players in public service broadcasting, although not the only one, it is important that RTÉ holds us to account in the same way that we ask questions of RTÉ. We look forward to seeing the strategy being implemented. It is important that happen in partnership with staff and, most importantly, with audiences. I am quite certain that RTÉ will remain in the headlines for the next few weeks for a variety of reasons but, moving on, we want to see more content being created and more quality public service broadcasting so that we can have a sense of value for money, regardless of how the public pays for it. I thank the witnesses very much for coming this evening. We look forward to continuing to work with them.

That concludes our business for today. The committee stands adjourned until Wednesday, 10 July, although we are to launch a minor report tomorrow afternoon. On Thursday of next week, we will launch our report on regional and community arts, which is not generating the same level of interest.