Paschal Mooney (Fianna Fail)

I thank Senator Henry for her kind remarks. It is a pleasure to be able to present such programmes for the Irish abroad. Senator Henry's points about how RTE presents the image of Ireland abroad are extremely significant. Now that it is being given the legal vehicle to present Ireland abroad, through radio programmes, it has an added responsibility because it is no longer broadcasting only to a domestic audience. As a child I tuned into the overseas services of a myriad radio stations from Radio Monaco to Radio Moscow, to the extent that people thought I was becoming a Communist.

The BBC overseas service is a benchmark radio service. While it does not overtly present the British Government's line because it has a reputation for objectivity in its news reporting, it presents the image of the United Kingdom internationally. I hope that the Minister, because of his overarching role in policy-making, will convey to RTE that it is not only a matter of technology or of the fact that it has a remit to transmit programmes abroad but that it is a challenge. I am pleased to hear the Minister say that RTE has responded enthusiastically to this new mandate. I hope it will rise to the challenge as it has done in the past, by presenting innovative and interesting programmes not just for the Irish abroad but for the international radio audience it will gain.