Martin Brady (Fianna Fail)

We are interviewed every five years but the financial risk is not as great. However, this provision will punish existing radio stations because of the lack of competition for licences. The most valuable asset any broadcaster has is the licence. The proposal would also undermine certainty for future investment and broadcasting quality. As Senator O'Reilly said, the term of the independent commercial radio licence should remain at ten years, regardless of the number of groups that declare an interest in it. That would lead to a more productive and efficient organisation.

Section 134 addresses digital radio broadcasting. I did not know much about this until I met a number of interested parties and they answered my questions. It will result in a greater station choice for consumers and the available spectrum will increase. Digital broadcasting is in its infancy and work is under way on the introduction of digital television with the termination of analogue broadcasting mooted for 2012. FM radio broadcasting may also cease because of digital radio broadcasting for commercial radio stations but that proposal has been put on the long finger. For digital radio broadcasting to be successful in Ireland, it is vital all broadcasters, both independent and public service, buy into the format, given the uncertainty surrounding such a service and the lack of proper information on issues such as the technology that will be used, the radio stations that will be carried on the platform and the benefits it will afford radio broadcasters. Every encouragement must be given to broadcasters to ensure participation. The advertising cap is set at 15% of station output and a maximum of ten minutes per hour but flexibility should be provided in this regard because if a station exceeds these limits, it is fined and so on.

NTL has a monopoly on the provision of cable television. The company signs up people, thus preventing them from accessing other providers such as BSkyB, and they are trapped. The worst aspect of NTL is the diabolical service it provides to the consumer. Last year, the company tried to encourage consumers to pay their bills by direct debit and it stated it would introduce a levy of €2 per bill if they did not sign up for this. Many of us opposed this and the company dropped the proposal. NTL does not provide appropriate customer service. One cannot get a member of staff on the other end of the telephone if one has a query. It provides no service to the public. Members receive numerous complaints about NTL and its behaviour is not good enough. I have met company representatives on numerous occasions and they made all sorts of promises but nothing has happened. Consumers deserve better. They have pointed out to me that I am in Government, not NTL, and they have asked that the Government sorts the company out. I ask the Minister to take my views on board.