Eugene Murphy (Roscommon-Galway, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Ceann Comhairle for coming to relieve me to allow me to make a very brief contribution on this issue. I should explain to people why I am so much behind this Bill. I worked in local radio, presenting and producing, for 20 years. I contributed to a programme on TG4 for a number of years. I also worked with Irish TV before its sad demise. While I acknowledge that our party is very much a part of setting up local radio, of which I am very proud, it is very important we move this forward to support the many people in this business who are entitled to a fair deal. Many of the people who initially got involved in local radio in particular had financial difficulties in trying to support it because there was very little Government support down through the years for this sector. There is a little bit now, but it is still very minor. As a result of that, many workers unfortunately got caught up in these contracts that are simply not fair.

With those few words, I very much support the Bill tabled by the Labour Party. It is wonderful to see all sides of the House supporting it. It is to be hoped it will now become law and ensure those many people in the Visitors Gallery and the people they represent will get a fairer deal and will not be tied up in those contracts in the years to come.

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