Jim Walsh (Fianna Fail)

The arguments have been well made by the Opposition. I lend my voice to support the call for an incremental increase to 5%. That appears to be the optimum and something in which the industry is interested. As Senator Norris has said, the independent television arising from this fund has produced interesting, informative and excellent programmes. I have no doubt the same will happen in regard to radio. One caveat I would put on it is that I have a concern that while it will be produced by the independent sector, the fund is controlled by RTE. Whether it be done now or down the line, I would like that the transmission of these programmes be available to the broader broadcasting media because it is funded primarily from part of the licence fee. I have argued that some of that should be available to others, apart from RTE.

I join with Senator O'Reilly in asking the Minister of State to field this ball and run with it, to go back to the parlance we used earlier on the sporting issue. In fairness to the Minister of State, he has been most receptive in the manner in which he has dealt with all the amendments. If he can run with this, I hope the reciprocity from the other side will be that it will not divide the House on any other issue between now and the time we finish and that we can deal with the other issues expeditiously.