Terry Leyden (Fianna Fail)

I welcome the Minister to the House. I thank him for taking the time to explain the situation with regard to the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland. This is a very timely debate and I called for it last week. I am grateful to the Leader, Senator Cassidy, for giving the necessary time as it has allowed the Minister to give a comprehensive statement on the activities of the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland. I refer to the charge on local radio which was of grave concern some time ago. The Minister dealt with this issue very effectively at the Joint Committee on Communications, Energy and Natural Resources. I have not heard any complaints since. An extra burden should not be placed on local radio.

RTE has the exclusive right to the licence fee which is €160 a year and amounts to a budget of approximately €180 million a year. Local radio depends completely on advertising revenue but, nevertheless, local radio is a very important cog in broadcasting. I was spokesperson on broadcasting for Fianna Fáil in the 1980s. We brought forward a Private Members' Bill on the establishment of local radio. This was before the Minister's time - he was probably a young person at the time - and there were many illegal radio stations which had to be dealt with. It was a difficult task to come up with the right formula but the sector has developed. The local radio stations that can be received in Roscommon - Shannonside and Northern Sound - Mid-West Radio in Mayo, Ocean FM in Sligo, Galway Bay FM and Midlands Radio 3 in the Athlone area provide an excellent service which is immediate and topical. The issues of the day are debated and discussed with people who would never have had an opportunity to speak on national radio or television. Local radio has provided a great focal point for the public in the local areas.

I am delighted to have this opportunity to speak on this issue and I look forward to hearing Senator Eoghan Harris's contribution because he was one of the most outstanding producers. I do not know whether he has already spoken because I was at the Fianna Fáil Parliamentary Party meeting-----