Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)

I support Deputy McManus and what she says. The Minister may recall that I raised this issue on Second Stage. What we are proposing to do in Ireland does not seem consistent with what many other countries across Europe are doing, with the best example being our closest neighbour.

The reality is that the delivery of broadcasting services is changing, as the Minister has conceded many times. He often watches the news via his computer screen because he is not home on time for the "Nine O'Clock News". We are rapidly entering a period in which people will be able to access various broadcasting services on demand through next generation broadband connections, whether fibre or mobile, as in the case of many people in rural Ireland. The regulatory model should take account of this convergence. The idea that there should be two large regulatory structures, one regulating telecommunications infrastructure and operations and the other, a new structure which we are setting up in quite a complex way to regulate broadcasting, whether radio, television or digital, should perhaps be reconsidered.

I appreciate that the Minister's officials and the Department have put a great amount of time and work into the legislation and I expect him to reject the motion, but that is not a good reason to proceed. There is a fundamental idea which Deputy McManus and I hold, that is, circumstance and technology is overtaking the work we do and we should be agile and flexible enough to respond to that. There is a great deal of sense in proposing an alternative regulatory model for broadcasting that could merge the regulators of broadcasting, telecommunications and, perhaps, other regulatory systems. These could be merged into one larger, streamlined, more efficient regulator. I am pleased to support the recommital motion, although it means more time and work for all of us should the Minister accept it.

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