Fergal Browne (Fine Gael)

I understand Senator O'Meara's suggestion, which was seriously considered before it was decided that it is not appropriate for the Minister to take into account the accidental availability of UK services when making decisions about what makes sense in terms of Irish broadcasting policy. Under the legislation, four multiplexes are available to provide lots of channels within the Irish digital terrestrial television platform. We need to accept that the charge in the BBC charter is a commercial one. Having given serious consideration to this amendment, we have decided it would not be appropriate to accept it.