Denis Naughten (Roscommon-Galway, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister for her comments in response to the amendment and her commitment to and recognition of local radio stations and the important role they play. The difficulty I have here is that, as the Minister said, up to 50% of the cost of the levy can be met from the TV licence fee. That is not to say it will be met from the TV licence fee. As we all know well, the difficulty is that when the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform get their claws into this, nothing will happen. What we are seeking is greater clarity on the commitment that there is a determination, in particular for the smaller stations, that they would see a reduction in the levy and that there would be a recognition of the important public service role they play. We have seen at first hand the importance of these stations during Storm Ophelia and Storm Emma. My fear is that with the commercial squeeze that is being put on many of the smaller radio stations the current disproportionate structure of the broadcasting levy would result in many of them going out of business. We would see the amalgamation of stations take place that will not be able to give the information, for example, on what went on in Bridgetown, or when the electricity will be back in 50 townlands across a listenership area. That is the type of detail that was provided during Storm Ophelia and Storm Emma. It is not possible for RTÉ or regional radio stations to give that level of detail. They can advise people to go on to their websites or Twitter accounts for a breakdown in that regard but the reality is that if the electricity to the local mobile phone mast is gone down, and the broadband cable is damaged, along with the electricity cable, people have no Internet. Any online forum is of no use. The only way to get a message to people across the board is through the local radio station.

We must make sure that those radio stations can survive. That is why I ask the Minister to accept the amendment. I know her commitment and that of her officials in this regard but I ask her to reconsider this between now and Report Stage to see if we can provide a greater level of assurance and clarity regarding the reduction in the broadcasting levy and ensure that it is far more proportionate and recognises to a far greater extent the vital role played by these local broadcasters across the country in times of emergency.