Jerry Buttimer (Fine Gael)

RTE Radio Cork was a magnificent station. It was a significantly short-sighted move by RTE and by its former head of radio, Ms Helen Shaw, to close RTE Radio Cork.

In saying that, there is awful difficulty in this country today because radio is driven by profit, and that is wrong. I appreciate one must make money to pay the bills but it has the potential to threaten local radio.

The opening of the airwaves to people in communities was a marvellous opportunity. As Senator Ó Murchú stated, it brought the message into the homes of people. Who would have thought in 2001 that the death notices would be listened to in many rural and urban areas, and if that was done in RTE it would be wrong? Radio is about communicating a message, telling a story, painting a picture and if we lose sight of that we are in big trouble. I fear for the future of radio in this country.

I fully subscribe to the viewpoint that there is a need for a Broadcasting Authority of Ireland and I commend the section of the Minister's speech where he stated that it, in its oversight of public service broadcasting, will look at RTE and TG4. It is important that it does so.

In saying that, Senator Ó Murchú made reference to TG4 and the vision of the former Minister, Deputy Michael D. Higgins. TG4 brings sport every week, gach seachtain, into the homes of people, be it the national league, the club championships or the Friday night programme going back into past times. There is much good work being done.

I understand that Deputy Ryan, as Minister, has a difficulty, as we all do, with the issue of digitalisation, the talk about audiovision, free to air, pay per view, the competing forces with Murdock etc. However, if we lose sight of the fact that we must have a public service broadcasting remit then we are in big trouble. I speak not as somebody from any particular political hue but as somebody who has a passion for radio. Radio is my first love and I listen to it constantly.

Let me list a couple of programmes to which I am partial, and which would be lost in a commercial station where people would ask, "Why bother?". For instance, on radio there are: "Documentary on One" and "South Wind Blows" with Philip King.