Hildegarde Naughton (Galway West, Fine Gael)
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I thank Ms Kenneally. I also thank all the witnesses for their opening statements. Before I go to members I have a number of questions. The first is for Professor Rafter. I wish to concentrate on his reference to the ability to go through an entire day browsing the web or watching television without using any of the Irish broadcaster services. That is globalisation at its most obvious. Could he outline the challenges that poses and explain whether they are all financial in terms of advertising? Could he also expand on the print media and the possibility of affording some State funding to newspapers, which also provide a public service, and they now broadcast through the web by means of podcasting and website videos. Advertising revenue is now moving to digital media at a very fast pace, which is causing huge problems for newspapers.

I note that the Independent Broadcasters of Ireland, IBI, defined public service broadcasting in its presentation. What programming can the market not support in terms of public service broadcasting? Is there an accepted list or are there particular types of programming that cannot be supported? Given the fact that advertising revenue is decreasing and moving to digital, am I correct in understanding that the IBI is essentially asking for more State funding?