Eamon Ryan (Dublin South, Green Party)

To answer the broad question the Deputy asked earlier in terms of staffing, one of the points I made is that what we are looking for in the public service reform process is the amalgamation of other agencies. That is not completed and, therefore, it is not in the legislation but there is nothing precluding us from doing that in this legislation. The amalgamation of such agencies into the broadcasting authority of Ireland would allow efficiencies and the addition of staff resources which could deal with some of the additional responsibilities. There is not a ban, as it were, on consultancy or short-term contract services but obviously that must operate within the authority's existing budget. That is in some way restricted by its full-time staff quota. It is not a vast budget within which large consultancy contracts can be written up.

One of the developments I see in the public service regulatory area, in terms of our own work in the Department, is that we will have to see increasing co-operation between regulators and the Department because our own consultancy budgets have been greatly reduced and, therefore, it behoves the public service, in regulatory and in departmental form, to work closer together and in that way also to achieve greater efficiencies. There are a number of different ways, therefore, that we will have to reform the public service to get more out of tighter budgets.

Regarding digital radio, it is in development phase here. RTE is operating trial digital audio broadcasting services using one multiplex. That provides space for approximately ten radio channels and carries content from RTE and certain commercial radio operators. It is on a trial basis which will come to an end.

The development of digital radio services here is not as advanced as it is in the United Kingdom. It is far from clear how it will be rolled out in the UK. RTE has applied for a national digital audio broadcasting licence from ComReg and I understand it is planning to develop an RTE only multiplex in the near future. It is anticipated that the Broadcasting Commission of Ireland will invite applications for commercial digital radio services in the near future.

The overall success of digital radio will depend on the commercial interest in digital radio and the subsequent level of consumer take-up. My view is that it will be taken up and, to a certain extent, it will be driven by the availability in standard cars of digital audio broadcasting tuning rather than FM. Once that becomes readily available, that will drive it here in large numbers.

In the UK, despite some of the difficulties, there is a large volume of digital audio radios. It is very popular and I believe it is the way to go. The higher quality and higher transmission capabilities make it a development we should and will see here.

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