Liz McManus (Wicklow, Labour)

On the first issue to which Deputy Kenny referred, there is a motion in my name on the Order Paper which relates to secondary legislation. There is time for the secondary legislation - that is, the statutory instrument - to which Deputy Kenny referred to be annulled. The reason there has been such a significant increase in the budget of the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland is as a result of Government policy, which ran contrary to the proposal contained in the bord snip nua report to the effect that there should be one regulator for the broadcasting and communications industries. However, the Government and, in particular, the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources, Deputy Ryan, insisted on establishing a new quango, namely, the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland. The budget for that authority has now climbed to €7.6 million. I do not know whether the Taoiseach is aware of this, although I am sure, like every other representative in the House, he has a certain dependence on local radio to transmit his views and opinions. Local radio stations throughout the country are extremely concerned and angry at the fact that an undue burden is being levied on them. This will lead to job losses in an essential part of our broadcasting sector. I am sure the Minister received the same type of submissions as I did from every part of Ireland, including the south-east, Munster, Dublin, the midlands and Connaught-Ulster.

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