Seanad debates
Wednesday, 15 October 2003
Criminal Justice (Temporary Release of Prisoners) Bill 2001: Committee Stage. - Local Radio Licensing: Motion.
A number of controversial decisions – I am not familiar with the ins and outs of decisions in other parts of the country – have provided an opportunity to look at how the system operates. This is what the rapporteur's report and recommendations deals with. She would have been well aware of the situation in mine and her part of the country when so doing. I agree with the comments about transparency and the need for an appeal mechanism. I do not know whether there are any other situations, such as exists in Mid-West Radio, where a licence is being withdrawn from the existing operator who is being put out of business. They were community in spirit, with a commercial licence, but there is now a question of getting a community licence. There are some considerable difficulties of transition involved in that. It was received at the time as a worsening of the terms of trade and it was believed it would create difficulties for employees and also in terms of raising enough income to operate. There is a comment in the report about the co-operative ethos and whether the BCI understands that. Without taking a position on that, in parts of the country, particularly in Tipperary, the co-operative ethos is important not just in terms of running the radio or the agricultural co-operative, but in many other facilities, including the Excel heritage centre in Tipperary. I hope that is not the case.
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