Trevor Ó Clochartaigh (Sinn Fein)

I dtosach báire ba mhaith liom ardmholadh a thabhairt maidir leis an díospóireacht a bhí ann i dtaobh cúrsaí Gaeilge agus Gaeltachta. Gabhaim buíochas leis na Seanadóirí a labhair sa díospóireacht agus leis an Aire Stáit. Tugaim ardmholadh go háirithe do na Seanadóirí a labhair as Gaeilge. Le cúnamh Dé, beidh cúpla duine eile dóibh ann an chéad uair eile.

I ask the Deputy Leader to provide time for a debate on broadcasting and communications in Ireland. Technology changes quickly and it would be interesting to hear the Minister's thoughts on how the industry is expected to develop during the next few years and the Government policy in regard to television broadcasting. Issues such as policy with RTE journalism, private terrestrial stations and the roll-out of Saorview and so on have been discussed on numerous occasions. I am interested in hearing about the role of TG4 in the broadcasting industry and the use by many people in Ireland of iphones, ipods and computers to access material on Netflix which recently entered the Irish market. I would like also if we could in such debate address the issue of a broadcasting charge, as highlighted recently in the media, the logic behind it and how it sits vis-a-vis current television licences and so on. It is important that the Minister, Deputy Rabbitte, come to the House to discuss these issues, in particular so that we can set out our concerns in regard to the imposition of another charge on households already hit by water, septic and household charges. If the media rumour is true and this charge is to be imposed, its logic should first be explained here.