David Norris (Independent)

I wish to refer to something I said about RTE last week. I stated, with the support of other Members, that it had not covered debates in this House. Since then, I have been informed that while it had done so, it had changed the broadcasting time, which did not appear in the newspapers. It is important to withdraw that criticism.

However, I wish to replace it with a different criticism, which concerns the new programme scheduling. It proposes to remove programmes like John Kelly's "Mystery Train", which is a distinguished and unique form of broadcasting and which brought people's attention to groups such as the Buena Vista Social Club, of which they would not otherwise have heard. I also refer to broadcasters such as John Creedon, that inimitable voice, Val Joyce, as well as Myles Dungan's arts programme. There is a legitimate interest in this regard, because RTE is a national broadcaster. While I am happy to pay the licence fee, I do not see why I should do so, simply to get another music and blather station.