Seanad debates

Tuesday, 4 November 2003

Broadcasting (Funding) Bill 2003: Second Stage.

 

The fund and its aims must be applauded, but they do not go far enough. I would like to draw the Minister's attention to several comments which were sent to me, and which I am sure he too received. Dublin Community Television has been lobbying the Minister and has been in discussions with his officials regarding the terms of this legislation. It raises an important point, which I hope we can explore further on Committee Stage, namely, the notion of community media being a distinct strand of broadcasting that should be supported. This was discussed in the context of the report of the forum on broadcasting and it is timely that we look at this. It arose in the context of local radio, particularly in the last licensing round. The Minister might know that I prepared a report for the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Communications, Marine and Natural Resources on the experience of local radio stations with the Broadcasting Commission and the licensing process. Out of that has emerged the whole definition and experience of community media, which is also clearly being referred to by Dublin Community Television. Community media, which does not necessarily mean small or local, is entirely different from independent media. Community radio or television does not have to be on a tiny scale. Neither does it have to be based in a small local area. However, it is non-profit making and obviously not commercial, but "community" gives it a whole different dimension and introduces a distinct brand of broadcasting, which if developed could be an extremely rich vein of broadcasting both in radio and television.

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