I do not want to imply in any way that I am critical of the BCI. In fact, I pay tribute to the excellent work it has done since its establishment but I agree with the Minister, Deputy Dermot Ahern, that changes in licensing procedures are timely. The Minister has ruled out any increase in ministerial involvement. This is because there is an existing framework which, in the main, has proved to be very successful, whereby licensing decisions are made by an independent regulator. I am pleased that the Minister, upon receiving the recommendations of the committee, announced a review of the radio licensing regime. I agree with him that the time is now opportune to review the granting of local radio licences, given the forthcoming establishment of the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland and the conclusion of the present round of licensing. I am glad the Minister has recommended that the review procedure will be carried out using comparative international experience which will provide an insight into radio licensing processes leading to Ireland adopting the best practice observed. Like the Minister, I have concerns about cost, fairness and transparency in the radio licensing industry raised in the review of licensing systems in Ireland. There is a case for a reduction in the cost associated with the application for local radio licences and I am fully behind the suggestion in the report that cost is a major issue for licence applicants which has to be tackled as soon as possible. The current cost for a radio licence application is in the region of €80,000 and above. Considering that the communities behind local radio stations are operating on what are at times very limited budgets, I believe this fixed cost is a contributory factor to the establishment of pirate radio stations. The extortionate costs associated with the licensing of local radio stations must be curtailed and I am completely behind the committee's suggestion that cost may act as a deterrent to applicants. Therefore, alternative ways need to be examined to reduce the cost.