Liz McManus (Wicklow, Labour)

I move amendment No. 32:

In page 39, between lines 26 and 27, to insert the following:

"(2) Prior to making a levy order the Authority shall once every three years present to the relevant Joint Oireachtas Committee a three year budget including the levy intended to be imposed for the information of the Joint Committee prior to a levy order being made.".

Members have returned to the establishment of this new quango and, regrettably, it seems as though the Minister is intent on proceeding with it. However, if it is to be set up, it is extremely important for Members to ensure that there is robust oversight of what it does and how it pays its way. Broadcasters will have an obligation to pay a levy to keep this body functioning and while I do not detect that they are objecting to the principle, clearly there are concerns at a time when they are operating in such straitened circumstances that any draw on their resources will have an impact. There is no fat in the sense that they can easily pay for the running of another regulator.

I recall that the Minister stated on Committee Stage that he expected it would cost approximately €5 million. Subsequently, this figure climbed to approximately €7.2 million. Whatever the cost, it is important that it does not cost too much and as the Oireachtas joint committee will have a role, in that it will participate by putting forward names for consideration for inclusion on the boards, Members also should ensure that the Oireachtas has a monitoring role in respect of both the body's expenditure and with regard to the kind of levy that will be required of broadcasters. In others areas, such as the damning example of FÁS, it can be seen how expenditure went out of control completely. While such things do not necessarily happen, they have happened and do happen and Members must ensure that they learn from the experience.

As I recall, I adapted this amendment following the discussion on Committee Stage because the Minister stated that a three-year plan was acceptable to him. We adjusted the amendment to meet his point. I hope he accepts it as being part of democratic oversight. I hope we can ensure that funding for this regulator and the workings of the regulator are characterised by value for money and forward planning. The three year arrangement for budgeting can set out a strategy for the future rather than a short-term one, which is possible if we do not have the three year framework.

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