Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)

I support the comments of Deputy McManus. Amendment No. 34 has the same provision, except that I have suggested a report should come before the Oireachtas committee once every two years. I am happy with that being once every three years if the Minister accepts this amendment.

I proposed a number of other measures. Before the levy for the financing of the broadcasting authority is imposed on broadcasters each year, it is not unreasonable that it require approval by the Minister for Finance and that there be an estimate of expenditure before the approval is given. The approach of the Minister is that the levy can be imposed and, if the Oireachtas has a problem within 21 days, it can act upon it in the set timeframe. What I propose is that, each year, before the levy is imposed, the authority is required to bring an estimate before the Houses of the Oireachtas and get approval from the Minister for Finance for it before the beginning of each financial year.

Deputy McManus referred to the creation of another quango, which this is. We are trying to avoid this becoming any bigger than it needs or costing more than it needs. The industry is struggling and adding an extra levy to broadcasters is another burden they do not need. Let us ensure this is not an empire building exercise within the new broadcasting authority. Let us require the authority to set an estimate before it gets finance through a levy so that we can ensure the broadcasting authority is seeking value for money in everything it does. That is not an unreasonable request, particularly in the current environment.

I propose that it is the Minister for Finance and the Department of Finance which gives the final approval. I do not propose a long, drawn-out debate in the Oireachtas committee to approve the levy each year. I suggest putting an estimate to the Oireachtas and getting the green light from the Minister for Finance to ensure he and the Department of Finance are satisfied the new authority is getting value for money, is not getting bloated and is not seeking too much finance from the broadcasting sector to run itself efficiently. That is not too much to ask.

Amendment No. 33 is not directly related to the other amendments but it concerns the levy. It proposes to remove section 33(5)(a), which suggests that money left over each year can be retained by the authority to be offset against the levy obligations for the subsequent year. That is not necessary. If money is not used, it should be given back to its source, the broadcasters. A broadcaster may go out of business halfway through the year. There is the option for the authority to refund to broadcasters proportionately but if money is not needed it should be returned rather than rolled over into the next year. I will not press this amendment. My main amendment supports Deputy McManus's suggestion, to ensure we are not creating a bloated, overly expensive structure to regulate the broadcasting sector.

See this speech in context