Eamon Ryan (Dublin South, Green Party)

If it is, that is not right. The purpose of the public service licence fee payment system is to allow on a regular, systematic basis that prime time slots, which are important in terms of advertising revenues, be given over to programmes that might not necessarily get the high ratings. The reason the licence fee exists is to allow a public service broadcaster to provide a range of different programming which is not judged only on the basis of the ratings it achieves. If that culture develops it undermines the public service broadcasting system.

At the weekend I was fortunate to launch a documentary film festival in Donegal. There were very interesting films on Iranian politics, a couple or family trying to adapt to climate change and a whole range of subjects. It struck me that this type of documentary film that might not necessarily get huge ratings could be part of our schedule to a greater extent to fulfil the public service remit we have. I take the Deputy's point and share her concerns that if we allow a system to develop where ratings are the key measurement of success and where pay is determined by such ratings, it goes away from the spirit and nature of the public service obligation we on all sides of the House would like to see exist.

See this speech in context