Malcolm Byrne (Wicklow-Wexford, Fianna Fail)

Most of our discussion today has been around failures and problems within RTÉ. I found there was some criticism earlier of the independent sector and naturally, I will stand up for much of that sector. It is unfair and unacceptable to say there are widespread bad practices within the independent sector.

Specifically, regarding the funding issue and the future-funding model, when we talked about how we will fund creative content into the future, one of the options was the development of a streaming levy, particularly when we discuss what streamers are taking out of the country. There was the option to proceed with this and there are provisions within this legislation for its introduction. It was something that this party favoured. Am I correct in assuming the union groups support the streaming levy, in particular, as a way of developing?