Mr. Declan Gibbons:

Absolutely. That is something with which the community radio movement is very happy. Again, that is very much what we are about.

Of the 22 existing stations, 14 are funded under the community services programme. This applies only in respect of staff. As I outlined earlier, five of the stations have been in something of a no person's land for the past while. There is a great deal of uncertainty with regard to this matter. There were previously 24 stations but during the past couple of years two which were fully licensed fell by the wayside. Ultimately, this was due to a lack of funding. It has been said that governance issues lay at the core of those closures. The point has been made, however, that if the issue which arises at every meeting is how bills should be paid and how the lights should be kept on, it is very difficult to have governance in order to run the rest of one's station.

Two community stations have gone to the wall. In that context, I wish to make a position point with regard to the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland. Despite all the challenges which have emerged in the commercial sector in recent years, no commercial venture has been allowed to close. Many of them have come back and renegotiated their positions in respect of particular issues. For example, they may have been obliged to combine newsrooms, etc., in order to curtail costs. However, two out of 24 community stations were allowed to close.