Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)

I welcome the commitment from the Minister today. I have always believed from the time TG4 was set up, including when I was Minister and since, that TG4 should be funded from the same fund as RTE and that if there is to be an Exchequer subvention, the lot should go into one ball of wax and then be spread out. We give a licence fee to public service broadcasters. Let us leave aside the broadcasting fund, or the fund that goes to bidding and concentrate on TG4, RTE and its various manifestations. Is there any measurement by the Department of the application of the funds in terms of public service broadcasting to ensure that what we get back in terms of public service broadcasting from the licence fee money is a good return and an equitable return on the money?

Will the Minister clarify whether any of the licence fee is used to pay inflated salaries and fees to broadcasters in RTE? The licence holders would be upset if they believed this was the definition of public service broadcasting, that is to say, paying people €600,000 and €700,000 per year in a time of economic downturn. Will the Minister clarify whether any mechanism exists between the giver of the money, that is, the Department, and the recipient to ensure that public service broadcasting money is put to public service broadcasting and not to the enrichment of private individuals?

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