Hildegarde Naughton (Galway West, Fine Gael)
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The joint committee decided to prioritise public service broadcasting as part of its work programme for 2016. The committee decided to review the current funding model for public service broadcasting to review the effect of advertising opt-out on Irish broadcasters and to consider other related broadcasting matters. The committee may also look at media ownership in Ireland. We are aware of the difficulties in the current television licensing system, of the very rapid changes in technology and of the reduction in funding through commercial revenues available to all Irish broadcasters. Although this is the first meeting in which the committee will consider public service broadcasting, we have engaged with the Minister on the funding of public service broadcasting. We received a letter from the Minister dated 31 October 2016 on this very issue.

Today, we are meeting officials from the Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment and from the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland. We plan to meet RTE and other stakeholders at later meetings. I welcome the following officials from the Department: Ms Patricia Cronin, assistant secretary, Mr. Éanna Ó Conghaile, principal officer, and Mr. Dualta O'Broin, assistant principal. I also welcome representatives from the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland, BAI: Mr. Michael O'Keeffe, chief executive, Ms Celene Craig, deputy CEO, and Mr. Diarmaid Breathnach, manager of public service broadcasting.

I propose that the two main witnesses will speak for five to ten minutes each, followed by a question and answer sessions in which members may ask questions not exceeding three minutes. Opening statements have been circulated. Is that agreed? Agreed.

I invite the first witness, Ms Patricia Cronin, assistant secretary, to give her opening statement.