The first meeting of the Forum on Broadcasting was held this morning. The forum was set up last month.
Members of the public and interested bodies have been invited to make submissions to the forum, which will make recommendations to the Minister for the Arts, Sile de Valera, by the end of July.
Chaired by former Central Bank governor Maurice O'Connell, the forum will consider whether there are distinct roles for public and commercial-independent broadcasting services in the light of the increasing range of programme services available - and likely to become available - to Irish viewers and listeners via cable, satellite and other outlets.
If there is distinct role for public service broadcasting, the forum will recommend arrangements that should be put in place for determining and managing the allocation of public funding to support it.
The forum will also consider whether there are distinct roles for public and commercial broadcasters in giving services at regional and local levels, broadcasting in Irish, and providing cultural content.
Both RTÉ and the Broadcasting Commission of Ireland have welcomed the public debate.
