Liz McManus (Wicklow, Labour)

The difficulty in the specific case is there is no means of resolution. It should not have happened. This underlines the point that if we do not have joined up regulation, people end up losing out. This case is an example of the argument for a converged regulator and I would had hoped the Minister would have taken it on board. However, we have had that argument.

With regard to what happened, the decision was made without any consultation with the existing local station and without any forewarning from the regulator about the problems that might arise as a result of the launch of the new station. When the local station people contacted the BCI to alert it, the technical people agreed with their assessment, but stated they would do nothing. People are now deprived as a consequence. The solution presented to them — which does not sound like a solution to me — was that the local station could install a fill-in transmitter. This would cost a significant amount and take a considerable amount of time, not to mention the marketing costs to be incurred in making the public aware of the new frequencies. When the director of the local station spoke to the CEO, he was given the same response.

This is not a one-off problem. It is happening in other areas and will happen to a greater extent as more demand on spectrum arises. What is sought in this case is an independent panel. We need some kind of arbiter to determine who is in the right and who is in the wrong and who can ensure the system works. We do not have that currently. I have sympathy for these people. I know local stations are very dependent on their local community and survive through the community. It is a two-way process. The idea the local station has lost out because the BCI was not aware of what it was doing or its impact is regrettable. The Minister said there is a way of resolving this. What exactly does that mean? There is a way of resolving it which would incur significant expense and delay for the unfortunate local station, but that is an unacceptable resolution to the problem. In terms of the new authority and the arrangements being made and in the absence of a proper converged approach, what protection have contractors and operators to ensure this does not happen again? If, by any mishap, it does happen again, what appeals system exists to get the process working correctly?

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