SCOTLAND'S culture secretary has said the size of the broadcasting sector in Ireland could be reached in an independent Scotland.

In a speech to the Royal Television Society in Glasgow last night, Fiona Hyslop claimed independence would see increased TV and film production and greater employment in the sector.

Radio and TV production in Scotland employs 3,200 people and had a turnover of £400m in 2011.

Ms Hyslop said the sector in Ireland employs more than 6,000, with Ireland's RTÉ national broadcaster employing almost 2,000 people compared to the 1,200 employed by the BBC in Scotland.

She also said independence would allow further film and television production tax incentives.

Ms Hyslop said: "Scotland is a creative and dynamic country and we must be ambitious to do more. Our sector lags behind that of nations comparable in size, such as Ireland and Finland.

"Creating a Scottish Broadcasting Service will do much to address this. But we can and must do much more."

She added: "It is telling that in the face of the economic difficulties of the last few years, Ireland has not just maintained but progressively strengthened its support.

"We are already taking the action we can to support the industry.

"We are currently considering a number of proposals for developing and operating a Scottish film studio."

The White Paper on independence proposes a Scottish Broadasting Service to replace BBC Scotland..