Denis Landy (Labour)

I support the comments of Senator Wilson in respect of IDA Ireland. When I was a county councillor there was an IDA office in Waterford and at the time the south east got its fair share. That office was closed although we vehemently opposed the closure. We predicted we would see job announcements going to the areas of high population such as Cork and Dublin. That office in Waterford has been closed for a number of years. Since it closed, there have been no significant announcements for south Tipperary, which proves the point. It is worthwhile having a debate on this matter.

I refer to the independent broadcasting sector in Ireland. Yesterday we had a presentation in Buswell's Hotel by the IBI, which made a very strong case. I ask that the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources come to the House in the coming weeks, or perhaps after the recess, to discuss this issue. Independent broadcasting in Ireland is public service broadcasting, the same as that of RTE. It serves local and regional areas. Every day seven out of ten people take as their first choice of listening local or regional radio, but 40% of revenue has been lost during the economic downturn.

The current programme for Government has committed to a review of public sector broadcasting, encompassing the dominant broadcaster, RTE, and commercial entities. The IBI calls for four specific actions and I suggest the debate should be based around these. First, to recognise the public service contribution of commercial radio; second, to set up a fund to support public service broadcasting in the commercial radio sector; third, to amend the 2009 Broadcasting Act to define and limit the commercial role and mandate of RTE; and, fourth, that the funding of the BAI come from the new household broadcasting charge. These are four clearly defined requests or aims on the part of the IBI.

Will the Leader ask the Minister, Deputy Rabbitte, to come to the House? Most of us who are not high-profile politicians, who came up through local government and became Members of this House, have relied on and worked with local and regional radio in our own areas for, at this point, probably 20 years. It is only fair that the pitch should be levelled and that this service which has been given to Ireland, to which seven out of ten people listen every day of their lives for sport, local news and issues, even for death notices-----