Ms Celene Craig:

We are not setting any minimum coverage around this. As the Deputy knows, there is a broad requirement for news and current affairs coverage within the statute currently. It is within that context that broadcasters might be willing to set out what specific commitments they would be willing to make to form part of their programme policy commitments, not just to the BAI but, ultimately, their audiences to which they are setting out these commitments. It would cover a range of matters such as content in the Irish language and Irish music.

It also covers music policies more generally. It will commit to a range of matters that are spelt out, for example, the extent to which broadcasters cater for minority interests within their communities. Sustainability will form part of that and it is up to the broadcasters themselves to commit to that. Obviously, that is something that we will monitor. At this stage, the idea would be that the broadcaster self-commits in the context of what it believes is most appropriate for the audience it is serving.