Mr. Noel Curran:

In terms of 2FM and Limerick, we are absolutely committed to the regions. We went through a massive financial restructuring with substantial cutbacks. We closed the London office, as the committee has highlighted. We want to reopen that office when we can afford to. That was a difficult decision for us, but we have not closed regional offices. We have gone into local arrangements and have moved offices, but we have not pulled out regional correspondents. That could have been a very easy, simple decision. It was a matter of a commitment we have that we are a national broadcaster.

At a forum like this, I do not want to start talking in detail about individuals. As regards the changes that were made in 2FM around Limerick, the person has not left 2FM. They have moved to a different part of the schedule, which is worth noting. On a general level, when I came into this position, a new plan had just been launched for 2FM. I felt we needed to let that plan run. That plan stabilised the station and I congratulate everyone involved in that, but it stabilised the falls and that is not good enough. These are difficult decisions but stabilising the falls in 2FM is not good enough for us, so tough decisions have to be made. That does not mean we are in any way pulling back on our commitment to the regions.

Commercial broadcasters, particularly in Ireland, ignore the Christmas schedule. They do not make much money so they largely ignore it. That is not a criticism, as it is an understandable decision. We do not make much money but we invest heavily in the Christmas schedule. It does not mean that everyone is going to like everything what is on, but if one looks back through the most viewed programmes, we continually do better than our competitors. We never paint it as a public service but it is in a way, in that our commercial rivals invest very little in that schedule. I agree that it is an important programme. Without going into individuals, we had reviews of some of the new year's output last year in which I was involved. It is fair to say that some worked and some did not. The ones that did not are unlikely to be repeated in that way. That is what happens with programmes that one makes across the board, and I am not singling out any individuals.