Martin Mansergh (Tipperary South, Fianna Fail)

I register agreement with three points made by Deputy Crawford. This is legislation that should be matured rather than rushed through the House. That would allow us to take on board the different points made and a really good Bill will result. I endorse Deputy Crawford's praise of LMFM. I was interviewed on the station two or three times even though it is far removed from the part of the country I represent. I have fond memories of the visit to Annaghmakerrig House. It is an exceptionally fine facility that does a real service to the artistic and writing community in a wonderful setting. I will do my best to protect it in the coming years from any harsh economic winds that may blow.

The context of my contribution is one of deep appreciation of the service that our national and local stations provide. By and large I regard them as excellent. When discussing topics foreign, they mediate the outside world through Irish eyes. One of the relatively recent innovations was the introduction of Lyric FM. I am not sure what I would do without it on long journeys around the country. Public service broadcasting is a concept I warmly support and believe has its place, complemented by commercial broadcasting but not displaced by it. It plays a major role in supporting arts and culture in terms of publicity and discussing exhibitions, books and broadcasting concert performances. Arts and culture would be in a poorer place if there was no public service broadcasting.

I pay tribute to the Broadcasting Commission of Ireland, which is to be replaced by a more comprehensive authority under this Bill, the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland. This has been helpful in my area in respect of strengthening community radio. When I came into electoral politics in 2002, the community radio station in Tipperary was in a difficult situation, with an uncertain future. The commission helped it, putting it back on its feet and it is a thriving station, amalgamated with Cashel Community Radio by consent. The regime now operating is beneficial to community radio. Many people rely on local radio.

There were worries in Northern Ireland that listeners might no longer be able to receive RTE when medium wave was phased out. There has not been a peep out of anyone since the change was made. Long wave radio provides very good coverage, as far as I can tell, over the island of Britain and in Northern Ireland. I was on holiday in the west highlands of Scotland and for the first time in my life I could hear RTE clearly without having to juggle the radio and put it close to my ear. The change has improved the coverage and dissemination of RTE rather than diminishing it.

When I was a member of the Houses of the Oireachtas Commission we discussed an Oireachtas channel. I would welcome a broadly based channel that would cover Oireachtas proceedings as well as those of other elected assemblies or quasi-parliamentary fora. On days the Dáil and Seanad are not sitting, for example, it could broadcast bodies such as the National Forum on Europe or the British-Irish Interparliamentary Body public sessions. There are many people, though I am not saying a majority or anything remotely like it, who take an interest in our parliamentary and political life and they would like to have far more access than is possible at present when there are only news broadcasts of something particularly politically newsworthy or "Oireachtas Report" very late at night. An Orangeman said to me that he liked watching "Oireachtas Report" and found it the best cure for insomnia.

There are serious gaps in the coverage possible under the present arrangements. When I was in the Seanad, nine times out of ten the only material covered was the Order of Business. There are some very good debates in the Seanad but none was covered, except rarely. Adjournment debates in this House, such as those last night, often cover matters of considerable topical interest. The two matters to which I replied last night were flooding in Newcastle West and the future of Malin and Valentia stations. These would be of interest to the public but there is no possibility of them being shown on "Oireachtas Report" because the debate takes place too late. A parliamentary channel could also cover the UN General Assembly on occasion. Four committees cannot be shown so they would have to be staggered in some way. The channel should be broadly conceived.

I express disappointment, probably felt by all Members, at the way a few journalists and broadcasters systematically denigrate this House and its proceedings on a generalised basis. A very well known columnist and broadcaster yesterday wrote in The Irish Times:

The Dáil has relevance only in the election of a Taoiseach — after that it is a waste of time. No debates of any consequence, no decision of any consequence, no input of any consequence. No accountability of any consequence. No scrutiny of a Bill that could destroy the country. For the reality is the legislative branch of Government is a failure.

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