Pat Gallagher (Donegal, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank Deputy Dooley for bringing the motion before the House. Independent local radio has played a massive role in media news distribution over the past 30 years. There has been a complete transformation of the listenership in our communities and local radio has increased radio listenership throughout the country during those years. As many of us will know, journalists have used local radio as a launch pad to become national journalists. In County Donegal, we are fortunate to have two local radio stations, namely, Highland Radio for most of the county and Ocean FM for the south of the county, both of which have stood the test of time, even through many difficult years. If what we say in the House is to be relayed to our constituents at home, it will not be through national radio but rather through local radio, which takes the clips from the Dáil and makes them locally available. I was elected a number of years before the inception of independent radio but, since then, there has been a major change and it is a considerable advantage to us in bringing our message to constituents. I am reminded of Raidió na Gaeltachta, which, while it covers the country, is all about local radio in the various regions, whether sa tuaisceart, san iarthar, ná sa deisceart. Although I do not know whether it will be enough, it received some additional funding this year and I would make a case for that.

In addition to local radio, I refer to community radio. In County Donegal, next door to where I live in Dungloe, we have Rosses Radio, South West Radio, Owenea Radio and Finn Valley FM radio. They are manned by volunteers who receive no income and they must also be supported. While some might say that some of them have a lot of money in the bank, the ones we know in County Donegal definitely do not. They, too, need assistance and must be helped. I know the Minister is pragmatic and there can be no procrastination. The motion will be passed, if not unanimously, by the vast majority of the House, and the Minister should put into effect the wishes of its Members.

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