Malcolm Byrne (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I would like to follow up on Mr. Purcell's point about having an environmental correspondent. Colleagues were asking, including Senator Cassels in particular, about the number of staff and so on. How difficult is it for stations to ensure they can continue to guarantee to provide that trusted, well researched content? I am very conscious that in our own case in South East Radio, as Senator Mythen said, there is a limited number of staff with limited time to research some of the background material. There would not be the same resources in a local community-based radio station. Are there any ways in which it can be more effectively done in pooling resources? How can local commercial radio continue to provide that level of expertise and knowledge to research the facts in an increasingly competitive environment? I can understand that it is very difficult for a presenter if they do not have a team of researchers. How will they be expected to challenge climate sceptics or those who are spreading misinformation on the vaccine? What supports can be put in place to most effectively do that?