Mr. John Paul Coakley:

Long wave service is only ten years old. Prior to 2004 RTE radio’s transmission ended at Birmingham. Since then and more recently one can get RTE radio globally. We have seen very strong growth in those platforms and we are reaching people in a way we have not done previously. The long wave service reception is unreliable.

It dies at night because of the large transmitter in Tipaza, Algeria. It is prone to interference from a host of electrical signals, as anybody who has ever fried a hair dryer near a long wave radio will know. I would say that in terms of every other option available to people it has a higher quality and opens up a wider world of choice. This is a transition we are all making in terms of digital technologies, and to a certain extent this transition is resonant with that.

In terms of the gentleman the Senator mentioned and a particular view on DAB, I have been following the development of DAB since 2004 when the acronym was dead and buried, so to speak, and I am pleased to see that there is a resurgence of development and interest in DAB throughout Europe. The reason for that is the need for a digital terrestrial version of radio, similar to the need for a digital terrestrial television service, and to ensure these things are sovereign, efficient, offer more choice and are of better quality.

I take issue with the idea that DAB is failing in the United Kingdom. I mentioned earlier the listenership figure for DAB, which is two thirds of all digital listening. Also, in recent months the UK regulator, Ofcom, has announced the competition for a second commercial DAB multiplex throughout the country. That is not an indicator of a failing proposition.

In terms of FM coverage in Northern Ireland, I disagree that FM dies at Springfield. I have driven to Belfast with an interest in hearing our reception. As Mr. Jennings stated, we believe we are available in 85% of the region. No network is perfect, and our FM network in Northern Ireland is not perfect. As the Senator knows, we are constrained to our own jurisdiction in respect of transmission so that is something we should continue to try to develop. We should also look at the DAB network in Northern Ireland to see if there is something we can do from the Radio 1 point of view.

The vast majority of our calls and contacts are from Great Britain rather than from Northern Ireland. Approximately 75% of total calls are from our listeners in Great Britain.

With regard to the cost, this structure is almost 1,000 feet high. The requirement is that this entire structure would be fed sufficient electricity that it would radiate as a structure. That is the scale of what 2RN, our network arm, is doing and that in large measure is the reason it costs €250,000 a year.