Dr. Pauric Travers:

I am not, nor have I ever been, a member of a political party. On the issue of the Pale, I agree absolutely, the concern that sometimes arises about narrow vision in the Dublin media needs to be borne in mind and addressed. RTE is a national broadcaster with a national remit. Local provision comes from local and regional outlets but if there is a perception that there is a “within the Pale” mentality it must be fought against. I have been out of Donegal since 1971 but I retain those roots and that loyalty. Most people, even those who have lived in Dublin or within the Pale for a very long time, tend to have that outlook. In so far as narrowness might creep into the vision of a Dublin-based media it must be fought in various ways.

I accept the difficulties independent broadcasters have encountered, particularly during a time of financial difficulty, with reduction in advertising revenue and so on. That has been improving somewhat. The sound and vision scheme I mentioned has benefitted independent broadcasters very significantly. Some of the work of independent producers finds its way back to RTE. The authority has been very conscious of trying to support and nurture local and community radio and has used the sound and vision scheme to do that. The significant improvement in the funding under sound and vision has gone to independent radio. One of the welcome developments is that radio drama, which used to be the sole preserve of RTE radio, has emerged from local radio stations with the support of the sound and vision scheme.