Eamon Ryan (Dublin South, Green Party)

The balance of the estimated cost of running the BCI and the authority this year as one evolves into the other.

Regarding the industry's contribution, I recognise that it is a difficult time for broadcasters in that the advertising market has been dramatically reduced. However, good regulation will benefit the industry. To use a sporting analogy, both teams playing a football match on a Sunday morning pay the referee. It is a relatively small charge and makes sense for both teams, as there will be a better match and good regulations and rules. A number of broadcasters recognise that some of the stringent standards applied by the BCI in the past 20 years have worked to their advantage by maintaining standards and ensuring a fair playing pitch, which is important if players are to be prevented from dominating the market and if single media ownership, one of a range of eventualities, is to be avoided. The return on the levy will be of benefit to providers. It should be a small cost as a percentage of overall budgets.

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