Willie Penrose (Longford-Westmeath, Labour) | Oireachtas source

There is no conflict of interest. I just have a genuine interest in ensuring Irish musicians get a fair hearing. Many in the west feel Irish music does not get a fair crack of the whip.

Some lawyer will come up with how a quota system will be contrary to some EU regulation. If the French can get over it, we should be able to develop a level of ingenuity to ensure we get over it and that our musicians get appropriate airplay.

Recently, when the BAI issued a radio licence, it stated 20% of airplay was to be for country music. There is no reason that cannot apply to RTE. Let it have dedicated programmes on a nightly and weekly basis to give opportunities to those artists to highlight their talents while allowing the public the chance to hear them. The public is going elsewhere. It is important we reflect Irish music as a cultural asset and develop it organically.