Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)

First, it is worthwhile to note that the Minister, Deputy Rabbitte, takes to heart the issue of public service broadcasting, what it means for our people and our democracy and the value of a true public service requirement in respect of broadcasting. Second, this episode justifies the Minister's and Government's decision to have the Carragher report produced on what was an appalling situation in respect of an innocent person.

The Minister had a straightforward, face-to-face meeting with the board yesterday and reported on the outcome of that meeting to the Cabinet. The House will be aware that the board is to respond in writing within seven days as to its response to the recommendations of the Carragher report and what it intends to do to implement its findings. The chairman spoke about this yesterday. Members are also aware that significant changes have already been made since the broadcast of that programme.

In respect of Deputy Martin's suggestion of a commission or committee to deal with the broader issues, the Oireachtas committee yesterday held a thorough and wide-ranging discussion about this. There is no reason that a sub-committee of that committee cannot deal with these issues. It would be entitled to hold hearings, as other sub-committees of Oireachtas committees have done, such as the sub-committee of the European Union affairs committee dealing with the fiscal treaty. I do not see why that cannot happen. This is in the interest of all our people and I will make that recommendation known to the chairman of the committee.

It is a matter for the committee whether it decides to do that by way of a sub-committee, with the opportunity to hold hearings and conduct a thorough and comprehensive discussion about public service broadcasting, what it means and how the world of broadcasting has changed utterly in the last number of years through a communications capacity that was never dreamt of a number of years ago. It is fundamentally important for our citizens and for their trust and belief in the quality of public service broadcasting. The Deputy has made a constructive suggestion and I take it to heart.

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