The Deputy will be aware that the Forum on Broadcasting established in March of this year submitted its report to me in mid August. The forum was asked to consider the future of broadcasting in Ireland. The forum recommended that RTE's role as the designated public service broadcaster should be re-affirmed.
I sought comments on the report from interested parties by the end of September. I am considering the recommendations of the forum along with the submissions I have received. Later this year I will outline how I intend to proceed regarding the forum's recommendations. At this point I can say that I am of the view that the people of Ireland are likely to be best served by a broadcasting sector that includes RTE as a strong national public service broadcaster with a broad remit that is clearly defined.
As regards how RTE should be funded in the future, I agree with the forum's recommendation that it should continue to be dual funded, receiving moneys from the proceeds of the television licence fee along with commercial revenue. As to the actual level of the licence fee, any application from RTE for an increase in the licence fee will be considered on its merits when received. Clearly, however, RTE must account in an open and transparent fashion regarding its use of the significant public moneys made available to it.
The forum's report also included a number of significant recommendations that impact directly or indirectly on the question of the funding of RTE. These include the recommendation that RTE should operate on the basis of a charter and the recommendation that there should be a single content regulator. I intend to take decisions on how to proceed regarding these recommendations before taking a decision on the actual level of the television licence fee.