Liz McManus (Wicklow, Labour)

I hope the Minister gives me the information on the additional cost of outsourcing work by the Broadcasting Authority. This is a central issue. Does the Minister not accept that it is absolutely outrageous for him to tell us now that the budget for 2010 will be €7.6 million, even though throughout the debate on the legislation he tried to dampen our concerns about increased costs? In the past the Exchequer has footed the bill for broadcasting regulation but now that the broadcasters must foot the bill the costs have gone out of control. The figure for last year was €6.2 million, but the figure for this year is €7.6 million. It is a new authority but it is very similar to the old one in many ways in terms of regulating broadcasting. How can the Minister stand over such escalating costs?

Will he also answer the question about the additional costs? Staff have left during the transfer and work will have to be, and perhaps already is, outsourced. How much will that add to the costs? How much is included for it in the €7.6 million? What will the Minister ensure is published that is in line with the legislation passed by the House, in which the Minister agreed to ensure proper scrutiny of what the authority does, by everybody and particularly by broadcasters who have suffered a 25% to 30% reduction in their advertising revenue?

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