Thomas Pringle (Donegal, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I do not know with whom I am sharing. I am the only Member from the Independents 4 Change group present. I will take about three minutes and I do not know who will follow.

I have given the motion considerable thought in the past few days. While its overall thrust is welcome, there are many caveats mainly relating to the ownership of national stations as opposed to local stations, as mentioned by the previous speaker.

All the previous speakers have said that the local radio stations play a major role in local life and local political life. That can even be seen by the number of people who attended the presentation in the AV room yesterday. The ambulance workers were in the room immediately beforehand and a much smaller number attended to hear from people who provide a vital public service and who are on strike today and tomorrow over the mistreatment by their management. The contrast in the numbers attending was immense.

Local radio plays a vital role. The motion stresses that role has a cost, which is true. Local radio stations are very popular. They give local news which is what people want to hear, particularly in rural areas. In Donegal Highland Radio and Ocean FM along with Raidió na Gaeltachta give that local news. That is what sets local radio stations apart from national stations. We have to gauge it in that way. We support local news, and we should support news, but that is also what makes local radio attractive for people to support. That needs to be taken into account when considering the motion.

The national radio stations should be separated out from the motion because that is where the crux of the problem lies. We need to look at how we stop the consolidation of ownership of local radio stations in the hands of a few individuals who may have a different attitude in terms of whom they believe the news is for. We also need to maintain that vigilance with RTÉ. The only way we can do that is through the small local radio stations; that is vital.

See this speech in context