P J Sheehan (Cork South West, Fine Gael)

I welcome this opportunity to debate the role of broadcasting. Ireland has a proud history in broadcasting here and in every corner of the world. Some of the developments we have seen in recent years have been good and some not so good. One of the best developments has been the creation of local radio stations. In particular I mention my local radio station, Cork 103 FM. It is an outstanding radio station and every citizen in County Cork as well as many in Kerry, Waterford and Tipperary tune into Cork 103 FM. It has certainly served the people of the south west in an excellent fashion since it was formed. It provides an excellent service to all the villages in the south-west region.

When I started my political crusade in 1960, I relied chiefly on after-Mass church-gate meetings. What a change has occurred in those 48 years. All election campaigns are now aired on local radio, some on television and of course there is still the art of personal canvassing. I am disappointed that the Bill does not propose to amend existing legislation to allow for responsible religious advertising or take account of the Private Members' Bill published by my colleagues, Deputy Simon Coveney and Gay Mitchell, MEP. I will be supporting amendments to be tabled on Committee Stage to remedy this situation and I hope the Minister of State has the common sense to table such amendments.

Ireland has a proud history in broadcasting. Independent broadcasting has never been as strong as it is today. More than 63% of the population, or 2.208 million, tune into independent radio on a daily basis. This indicates the number of people independent broadcasters connect with daily. Given these figures, no one can disagree that independent radio is providing an invaluable public service for the people.

The independent sector is growing. There is at present one national television station, two national radio stations, three regional stations and 27 local stations throughout the country. Added to these is a regional radio station preparing for its initial broadcasting date and multi-city licence and an easy listening service has been advertised. This is before we begin to focus on digital radio. The Broadcasting (Amendment) Bill launched by the Minister, Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív on Wednesday, 14 May, and passed by Seanad Éireann on 25 June is broadly welcome. There are, however, a few areas of concern.

At present, independent commercial radio stations operate under a ten-year licence which is subject to open competition at the end of that period. Section 67 of the Bill allows for the fast-tracking of radio licences, where the incumbent is the only group interested in broadcasting to the chosen franchise area. Fast-tracking of an unchallenged licence is welcome as it reduces the radio station's costs of applying for a new licence and the regulatory costs involved in awarding it. The fast-tracking system proposed under section 67(9) allows for a new licence which would not exceed seven years, rather than the normal ten-year term. I welcome the amendment passed in the Seanad which increased the term of the fast-track licence from the originally proposed five years to seven. However, there is a sound business and broadcasting case to be made for giving a licence for ten years, as usual, and not the seven years as proposed. I appeal to the Minister of State to restore that seven year provision to ten.

By significantly reducing the term of a licence, radio stations will not be able to run their businesses on a strategic long-term plan. That will make it difficult to attract and retain talented staff or justify major long-term investments such as the acquisition of premises and equipment and staff training. In essence, this is to punish the existing radio station for the lack of competition for its licence by significantly reducing the most valuable asset any broadcaster has, its licence. It will serve to undermine certainty in future investment and broadcasting quality.

Section 66 of the Bill properly makes fulsome provision to enable the new Broadcasting Authority of Ireland to satisfy itself as to the suitability of an incumbent licence holder before it awards a licence under the fast-track provision in section 67. The clear and unaccepted logic of a ten-year term for a radio licence should not be upturned simply because there is no competitor. I would like the term of an independent radio licence to remain at ten years, regardless of the number of groups which declare an interest in the licence. The same widely accepted logic for a ten-year licence term apples, regardless of the fact that in some instances there may be no competition.

Digital radio broadcasting will result in greater station choice for consumers, with an increase in the amount of available spectrum. Digital broadcasting is in its infancy in Ireland. Work is being done on the introduction of digital television on foot of the analogue switch off that has been mooted for 2012. There is no talk of FM radio being switched off and as a result digital radio broadcasting for commercial stations has been put on the long finger. In order for digital radio to be successful in Ireland it is vital that all radio broadcasters buy into the format, both independent and public service. For commercial radio stations the most powerful form of encouragement is an extension of their broadcasting contracts, a fact that is recognised in the Bill. A significant amount of financial and human resources will be required for the development of digital broadcasting. Given that a return on this investment is not guaranteed, the contract extension of four years proposed in the Bill is insufficient to ensure that independent broadcasters will take the very significant risks involved and invest in the development of digital radio. I would like to see a contract extension of not more than seven years for any radio station that invests in and gets involved with the development and potential implementation of digital radio broadcasting.

The television station, Channel South, will commence broadcasting in November and will be available to homes in Cork city and county, Limerick city and county and areas of the Munster region, including parts of Kerry, Waterford, Clare and south Tipperary. The channel will operate 24 hours a day and will have a range of locally focused programming at the heart of its schedule. Central to this will be hourly news bulletins, the first time that television news will be focused exclusively in my south-western area. The news bulletins may also be seen on websites once broadcasting begins. This is significant progress as far as television is concerned.

Local radio stations play an excellent role in conveying local news every morning from 8 a.m. until 12 o'clock. The public is very pleased with the service it is getting and I hope that any sinister parts of the Bill will be overruled and fine-combed. I am sure the Minister of State, Deputy Power, will do his best to ensure that happens. Freedom of speech and freedom of news is essential for every individual. It is a concept that must be maintained as long as there is demand for it in Ireland. The Minister of State does not have a big mountain to climb. He must only accept a few amendments. I have noted his wisdom, tenacity and courage since he entered the House in 1981. He will rise to the occasion and deliver the goods I have advocated.

See this speech in context