Joe O'Reilly (Fine Gael)

It is important to ensure that independent productions are not victims of financial shortage. They provide important employment and are an important indigenous industry in their own right. They offer an employment opportunity for our graduates and this has a spin-off effect for the country. They also provide excellent objective material and contribute to our social and cultural heritage. We should not make them the victims of a financial shortage. RTE support for independent production must remain at a premium. I understand there is a floor figure, but we should go beyond that in expenditure on independent productions, particularly with regard to indigenous material.