Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)

I have a number of points on section 4. Will the Minister be clearer? Will the implementation of this legislation cost the State anything? He referred to the expenses that will be incurred by the Minister in the legislation's administration. If the cost will not be zero, what will it be?

I will wait for the debate on the levy to discuss it. Just so that everyone is clear, how much will the industry need to pay for the establishment this year of the new structure? Presumably, the Department has estimated the cost. The Minister used the example of the telecommunications industry financing ComReg. As he stated, telecommunications is a multi-billion euro industry, but it is in a different place from broadcasters, particularly given the collapse in advertising revenues. The telecommunications industry has a different capacity to pay, as does the energy industry, some generators in which are too comfortable. Broadcasting is different in terms of its revenue and the pressures on it. If the Minister answers some of my questions, we will make progress.

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