Joe O'Reilly (Fine Gael)

In respect of the Minister's point about my first amendment, it would not restrict good candidates from seeking positions on the board. If they are competent, know what they are about and have the right motives, they would not have a problem with a properly ordered process of public investigation. I do not accept the contention that it would deter good candidates.

It is correct for the Minister to challenge on the added value. The added value, again, would establish excellence in the personnel joining the board, maintain transparency and confidence in the whole process and the system and further break away from the traditional models of appointment. It has much to commend it, namely, a huge output with no disadvantage.

I thank the Leas-Chathaoirleach for his indulgence and assistance in respect of amendment groupings. In respect of amendment No. 20 and the capping of the levy, we contend that there should be a reasonable level of expenditure. However, in the current economic climate, when we are asking many sectors and workers to exercise restraint, it would not be a bad thing for the House to establish in legislative terms the concept of restraint in expenditure by a State board.

I understand the controls in the legislation but what we are effectively saying here is that a reasonable cap be established on expenditure, taking cognisance of previous and likely expenditure and exercising leniency, reason and vision for pre-planning. We could have an excellent board today and next year. To take it to an extreme and ludicrous level, it should be enshrined in legislation that no board in the future could decide to build itself a Taj Mahal-like office block, that it needed to visit Bermuda a few times a year to analyse its role in broadcasting or any other such extravagant or outlandish thing. This is the purpose of the capping exercise.

I know the Minister accepts that the objective is not to muzzle the board or to restrict its remit. The objective is in no way to make it less effective in what it does or in its vision and planning. Of course, we need all that. We need an exciting, adventurous, ambitious and developing broadcasting sector. We must all be gung-ho about that, which is why we are all so committed to getting this legislation right. However, no board should be given an open chequebook. The need for reasonable expenditure should be inserted in legislation.

If we capped the levy, we would achieve another objective, namely, a high quality of programming. We are currently not punitive or prohibitive in respect of the amount of money we collect from the various broadcasters around the country. If they pay too much into an authority that spends ridiculous amounts foolishly, they could limit the amount they spend on programming, quality productions and planning for the future. That also must be a consideration. Capping would stop ludicrous expenditure and ultimately would be a safeguard for good programming. I commend the amendment to the Minister on that basis. We do not have a philosophical dispute here. This is an operational matter, to attain what is best and to achieve probity while not thwarting or muzzling creativity or success.