Mr. Michael Kelly:

As it has been pointed out, the additionality really came out of nowhere. It is an unusual concept, which does not normally apply and certainly does not apply to the media. The idea that we would be forced to shut down services to qualify for additional funding is an anathema. It is just wrong.

Of course, some people will say we could not shut down our services because we have licence obligations but we are going way above our licence obligations at present. It is not that we ever do the minimum but we are being hampered because we cover a wide range of stories and all the areas included in the schemes. Punishing our stations and their staff is wrong.