I propose to take Questions Nos. 16, 18 and 214 together.
Representations have been made by various interests regarding perceived distortion in the advertising market.
This distortion arises from the dominant position of RTÉ which exists due to the privileged monopoly position they enjoyed for many years, the lead time they had in that protected environment to develop their services, the substantial resources at their disposal, with particular reference to their access to licence fees.
I am sympathetic to the arguments put forward in these representations and propose to bring forward shortly legislative measures which, I believe, will result in a fairer, competitive environment to all concerned and should not result in any deterioration in RTÉ programme standards.