John Browne (Wexford, Fianna Fail)

The BCI is the governing body. It is obligated to consider the desirability of allowing any person or group of persons to have control of or substantial interest in an undue amount of communications media in an area specified when considering the award of a licence and to take account of local needs. The BCI will take into account the issues raised by Deputy Eamon Ryan. In my part of the country, we have local radio stations. I am sure it is the same elsewhere. We also have Beat 102-103, which was recently set up as a regional station and has proven successful. I am not the final decision maker but I do not see a reason cities should not have local stations also.

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