Joan Collins (Dublin South Central, People Before Profit Alliance)

Like the other speakers, I am not opposed to the amendments providing for the allocation of moneys to TG4. Perhaps the Minister would take on board a matter that has been raised with me. People in my community have expressed their anger at the wages many RTE presenters earn and they have raised the possibility of boycotting the payment of their television licence fee on that basis. That is a strongly held view of many people, particularly in these stringent times when many people are taking cuts. That issue should be examined.

Another issue is the character of the news programmes on RTE. The coverage should include more debate and the views of people on the ground. I agree with Deputy Ferris on this point.

On many news programmes, the views presented are only those of economists and other professionals. These people have huge earnings and their views reflect their lifestyles. They talk down to people and challenge the politics and ideas of people like ourselves on the left and other small groups yet these commentators are the people who earn a huge amount of money. In many ways they protect their status by challenging people like ourselves. There is a mood among the people in regard to RTE. I believe there should be a television licence and a free-to-air television station.

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