Eamon Ryan (Dublin South, Green Party)

I do not reject the idea out of hand because serious consideration should be given to the regulatory structures given the technological changes and the convergence between the computer, broadcasting and telecommunications industries. I accept there is an argument in that regard. However, in respect of the correspondence from Deputy McManus and the motion before the House, in the past two years and for some time before I have come to the conclusion that it is not best for us at present to establish a single regulatory system for both broadcasting and telecommunications. There are real concerns with respect to such a move and there is a possibility the broadcasting sector could be swamped. The economic importance of the telecommunications sector is approximately €4 billion whereas the figure for the broadcasting sector is only in the order of one eighth of that figure. There is a real risk and concern that the interests of one industry could tend to get ahead of the other.

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