Paschal Mooney (Fianna Fail)

I support the views on the EU expressed by Senator Ryan. I am sure the House will agree that the Taoiseach played a very substantial role last week. At a time when everybody is bemoaning the lack of strong leadership in Europe, as a small country we should be justifiably proud of the increasingly statesmanlike stature of the Taoiseach and the manner in which his credibility has soared in recent months on the European stage. I say this as an Irishman proud of the Taoiseach.

I ask the Leader to urgently communicate with the Minister for Communications, the Marine and Natural Resources over concern that has been expressed at an internal RTE decision to cease the broadcast and transmission of sporting events, particularly GAA commentaries and reports, on long wave and medium wave from 1 July and to transfer them exclusively to FM, which even those Members with the slightest knowledge of broadcasting transmission will know will limit access to the service to those within the island of Ireland.

I have just returned from a weekend at the annual congress of the Federation of Irish Societies, which represents more than 100 affiliated community-based activists throughout the UK. These people work among the most vulnerable and elderly of our society who rely on the traditional medium of radio. I do not want to hear a response from RTE that these broadcasts can be picked up on satellite or the Internet, which, is also questionable following this appalling decision. I would like to know who in RTE made this decision. It will create enormous isolation and will send an appalling message to the Irish abroad that the national broadcaster is abandoning them.

In this regard, does the Leader believe that it would be timely to have a follow-up debate on the task force report on emigration? The House debated it 12 to 18 months ago and we can use this debate to acknowledge the increasing revenue being placed before Irish emigrant organisations in the UK and in the US. It would also be an opportunity to report progress on what has been happening. Following her recent visit to America, the Leader will be aware that there are a number of issues to be discussed.