Victor Boyhan (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I warmly welcome the Minister. I thank him for setting our some of the issues and difficulties, which I do not propose to discuss in detail. I certainly do not wish to speak about INM, Celtic Media or any other media outfit. I am conscious that there are proceedings and affidavits before the court so it is not appropriate to comment in detail on them.

I thank the Minister for his comprehensive report. Incidentally, my colleague, Senator Billy Lawless, asked me to apologise for his absence. He had to go to a meeting. He wishes to support the Minister and to thank him for coming to the House. He asked me to put that on the record for him. I thank the Minister for outlining his strategy for RTÉ. He dealt with RTÉ's advertising, the licence income - and he spoke in detail about the loss of the substantial sum of €40 million in potential income - and the sale of RTÉ's assets, as well as the cost of regulating the social media.

I do not have many questions. The "Oireachtas Report" programme is now gone; RTÉ has ceased broadcasting it. A number of Senators met representatives from RTÉ in recent weeks in a meeting organised by Senator Norris and the rationale was teased out again. The RTÉ representatives had already come here previously to speak to the political groups in the Oireachtas. I am aware of how RTÉ is changing in terms of online, digital and other new mechanisms for broadcasting but, as the previous speaker indicated, there are still some people who do not have access, or who choose or do not wish to have access, to other forms of media. Those individuals liked "Oireachtas Report". I accept that there is a substantial cost factor and that a number of staff are directly involved. However, as is its right, RTÉ has taken that commercial decision.

I have a suggestion, although I do not know how it could be worked through. Perhaps RTÉ, through the Minister's good offices in contacts with the station, would look at the excellent Oireachtas service here. There is already a brilliant Oireachtas service so could there be some synergies or an arrangement between Oireachtas TV, which is ongoing here in any event, and RTÉ or, for that matter, with other broadcasters in that regard? There are plans to have a new studio for political broadcasts on the Leinster House campus. It is important that this does not become an exclusive facility for RTÉ either. There must be a level playing field. That is another issue the Minister could examine because it is important. We have to give access to independent broadcasting companies and independent radio stations to communicate. It is all about communication and broadcasting. At some stage, where it is appropriate, we should look at what already exists here and whether there can be some type of synergy between independent broadcasting and RTÉ, if it so wishes and if it considers it appropriate, because I believe there is something good in that.

Perhaps the Minister might clarify a matter regarding Project Montrose. We know that is €107 million was realised and that legal fees, taxes and other obligations must be paid from that. However, they will not be very substantial in terms of the €107 million obtained on foot of the sale of lands at Montrose. Is the Minister saying that the money is being retained wholly and exclusively for RTÉ? I am not sure if that is right because there are other calls on some of the money. The Minister will recall that there was a call for an audit of all State lands - I am not suggesting that it should all go to the delivery of social and affordable housing - and I would have considered the lands at Montrose to be owned by the State. I am not sure that is necessarily a good way to spend the money. Why is it all being retained by RTÉ? The Minister might explain the reason for that.

I acknowledge the potential loss of €40 million. Ultimately, the public will be the loser if people do not pay the licence fee. The Minister said he is going to look again at the issue. Will he confirm or rule out the possibility of a digital tax for each home, which was something one of his predecessors proposed? That proposal did not go down very well. What are the Minister's views on the matter?

The Minister said that the Government will establish an interdepartmental group to consider issues arising from the recent experiences in other democratic countries regarding the use of social media by external, anonymous and hidden third parties. I welcome that initiative. Perhaps the Minister would share the timelines for that work, indicate when it will deliver some strong recommendations and outline how all of that will be bedded down in some type of legislative format. That is important.

I wish the Minister well. I have always found him to be a man of probity and high integrity in his work. He said that he runs a very open system. That is true. I wish to give testament to that fact and to acknowledge that any dealings I have had with him or his Department have been open and transparent.