Jim Walsh (Fianna Fail)

I listened with interest to the Minister's comments on this issue. With regard to the film channel, his argument is reasonably persuasive in that the only cost really is the transmission of the films, which may be two or three hours long. I can see that it would not require much ongoing expenditure to run such a channel.

We had a debate earlier about the heritage channel, a sports channel, a GAA channel as part of the heritage channel and so forth. We also talked about the Oireachtas channel and the necessity of making it interesting, particularly in the context of local and regional television, via the involvement of local authorities. If we transmit the Oireachtas and council meetings only in session and leave it at that, we will sell it short. If we want to make it a success, we will have to go further and include interviews and encourage public participation at local level.

What is the general policy on options for channels? Is it decided on a case-by-case basis? Many options have been mentioned already but a very obvious one would be a European channel. We do not really get a lot of exposure to mainland Europe through our own television network. If Mr. Gordon Brown sneezes, we hear about that and if something happens in the United States, we hear about it too. However, when it comes to other European countries, we have very limited coverage, unless there is a disaster somewhere, like an aeroplane crashing. We should encourage a European channel of that type. The only thing that would remotely reflect what I am suggesting is the French news service broadcast by TG4 very late at night, when most people are in bed, which is a very good service.

We need more exposure to mainland Europe. We had a debate earlier about the Lisbon treaty. If people here could be connected on a daily basis with interesting issues in other European countries, the connection with the whole concept of the European Union would be enhanced. However, I do not think such a channel would run unless it was supported by funding from the Exchequer through the television licence, or through advertising. I suggest to the Minister that advertising is a good means, in a controlled way, of providing those types of extensions to the broadcasting media that are highly desirable.