Liz McManus (Wicklow, Labour)

Yesterday, I raised the issue of Statutory Instrument No. 7 of 2010 which deals with the levy scheme which will affect local radio stations. Events have moved on significantly since yesterday. This morning, at a meeting of the Joint Committee on Communications, Energy and Natural Resources, a motion proposed by the Chairman that this scheme be annulled was unanimously agreed. The motion received all-party support from Government and Opposition members. In light of the fact that Opposition and Government Deputies have lost confidence in this statutory instrument, the Government must either withdraw the measure or put it to a vote.

We cannot allow local radio stations to be bled dry because of decisions made at Government level. An authority has been set up and a levy scheme instituted in which Members on neither side of the House have no confidence. We all support the principle but I ask the Taoiseach to ensure that the statutory instrument is withdrawn and a full review carried out. The Broadcasting Authority of Ireland, BAI, is already committed to carrying out a review but this cannot be done on the basis that the scheme stays in place. We have time but it is limited.

The joint committee has unanimously agreed that Statutory Instrument No. 7 of 2010 be annulled. I urge the Taoiseach to listen to his own Deputies, as well as those on this side of the House, who want to make sure that broadcasting is regulated but also that the cost of that regulation is appropriate to the times and fairly distributed on the broadcasting industry.

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