Ms Teresa Kenny:

That is no problem. We very much welcome the proposal that there would be multi-annual funding for PSM. At present, RTÉ has multi-annual funding by virtue of a Government decision but TG4 does not at present have that. It is proposed that it will happen under the legislation and we welcome that.

We have concerns about some of the language and that the process might inadvertently not be compliant with the EMFA. Article 5.1 of the EMFA requires that PSM be editorially and functionally independent.

We have a query as to whether the fact that an external third party - in this instance it is our regulator, Coimisiún na Meán - will be permitted to select the performance commitments of the PSM. We feel that this might inadvertently not be consistent with Article 5.1 of the EMFA. Under legislation, the board of the PSM has a statutory duty to set the strategy of the corporation. If a third party sets the performance commitments, based on the proposed multi-annual process, the performance commitments will then be the basis for the strategy, which the board will set. It seems to be quite inconsistent with Article 5.1 of the EMFA. It also might undermine the role of the board. That was the concern.