Tommy Broughan (Dublin North East, Labour)

Does the Minister of State not accept that there are grave concerns that a number of dominant companies are gaining control of significant numbers of stations and that, ultimately, viewers and listeners will be left with restricted choice? Is this not the core point which the Minister must address?

In that context, will the Department make any announcement on digital audio broadcasting, DAB, which operates in the UK. DAB provides additional free to air services. I am unaware of any DAB services in Ireland. Why have we not taken some initiatives in respect of DAB which is a very exciting development in UK media circles?

I wish to make a slightly parochial point, although I am the Labour Party's national spokesperson on this issue. There is grave disquiet in the Dublin region over the decision by the very successful local radio station, NewsTalk 106, to apply for a national radio licence. This station covers all aspects of social and economic life in Dublin very well and has been especially valuable for Dublin public representatives. There is grave concern that the service provided by NewsTalk 106 to the Dublin region, which is replicated by between 30 and 40 other regional radio stations throughout the country who perform so admirably, will be lost if NewsTalk 106 becomes a national station. We need a Dublin-based public affairs station like NewsTalk 106.

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