Paul Bradford (Fine Gael)

Mr. Joyce has been removed from the show. His programme showed that radio broadcasting is not only about young, vibrant disc jockeys and that every sector has a role to play. Perhaps we are reminiscing a bit too much.

I am coming across as a fuddy-duddy but another programme which reaches out to the elderly is Donnacha O'Dulaing's programme, "Fáilte Isteach" on Radio 1 on a Saturday night and to which emigrants listen. It relays little stories about the Irish community in Britain. It shows that true public service broadcasting must try to appeal to all sectors of the market and must have a variety of programming not all commercially successful or paying for themselves through advertising revenue, etc. It is all part of the jigsaw of the sort of broadcasting service we must offer the people.

The amendment makes a statement that the over 65s matter and that their concerns must be addressed. I hope the Minister of State, Deputy Seán Power, will be able to recognise that sort of thinking by agreeing to the amendment or giving us a guarantee that the thinking behind it will be part of the legislation. I look forward to hearing the Minister of State's response. If we are to have an inclusive broadcasting service, we must recognise the needs of those over the age of 65. It may be politically incorrect to speak of sectors like "the over 65s" or "the over 50s". We know the market we are speaking about. I refer to people who may be retired from work. Such senior citizens, who built this country, paid their taxes and made this country what it is, still have a major role to play. I ask the Minister of State to try to respond as favourably as he can. I look forward to his response.