Brian Brennan (Wicklow-Wexford, Fine Gael)
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I do not think I will need ten minutes. I am keen to hear from the representatives of Coimisiún na Meán about where they feel the role of local radio is going. I am from Gorey in County Wexford and I am involved in Arklow as well. East Coast FM and South East Radio are important for me personally. They are so ingrained in the fabric of our society. It is important that we have them. I see them being taken over by bigger bodies. The services are slowly changing. I am not picking on those two radio stations but, for example, at weekends now it is national news only. There is no local news. Local news is listened to in every nursing home and every house in Wexford and Wicklow. That has drifted and I am worried about losing that. I say that on behalf of business people and representatives but also on behalf of the whole community.

I welcome that 25% of public funding is going to be secured for the independent sector. I am keen to clarify that it is set in stone. RTÉ had a hard time on the last occasion we were here. Joe Public - all of us - want transparency, accountability, value for money and the use of Irish talent. They are the four simple things we need. I seek reassurances that RTÉ will tick those boxes and do that under this scheme. Oversight is extremely important. There is a review every three years. There has been much talk about this. I feel it should be shorter than that - perhaps an interim report could be produced in a year and a half. I would like to get a commitment on that to reassure people about what is happening in regard to the four commitments I outlined.

I have a question for Ms McQuillan from Screen Ireland. The vision for 2025 to 2029 is very interesting. What is the percentage of Irish-made films or screenplays, including as Gaeilge? I am very keen to learn that percentage. How many of the films or screenplays are produced in Ireland? Are we pushing for the employment of Irish actors? I was out last night at a local Fine Gael meeting and there was a young girl behind the counter who was a trainee actress. She had not got the work but one could see the talent and confidence was there. The actors are there. They are in every corner, including in that corner of Wicklow last night. I am interested in the responses to those points.