Mr. Anthony Muldoon:

Essentially, we are advocating what the Bill is hoping to do, that is, have multi-annual funding for public service media, both TG4 and RTÉ. The reason we think this is the best model is that it is in the European Media Freedom Act, which states clearly that this is the best way to fund public service media so that there is a trusted media source in any home country. Second, it would give certainty and predictability to the organisations themselves and allow TG4 or RTÉ, for instance, to plan three years in advance.

From the independent producers' point of view, it means that production companies can plan ahead because you know on a multi-annual basis what kind of money will be available for commissions in that cycle. That gives greater certainty and allows for investment and development, creating new programmes and challenging audiences. That is why multi-annual funding is the best approach. We believed the announcement on RTÉ's settlement last year was positive. It was less than was asked for but it was still a very positive step.