Terry Leyden (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Last Thursday, 7 February, when the Leas-Chathaoirleach was in the Chair, I spoke about the control of independent local radio. I said at the time that "Limerick FM and Clare FM have been bought by Kerry FM". In fact, Tipperary FM and Clare FM have been bought by Kerry FM. The matter was clarified later in the debate. I have looked at the blacks as well. Limerick FM is owned by the Wireless Group. The point I made to the Leader of the House last week was that it would be worthwhile to have a debate on the control of so-called local radio. When I had the concept of bringing forward an independent local radio Bill in the 1980s, I did not envisage that it would become a commodity and that Communicorp Media, which is owned by Denis O'Brien, if I can mention his name, would control 14.7% of the market through 98FM, Newstalk, Today FM, Spin 1038 and Spin South West. I hope he is not listening in because I do not intend to be sued. We have full privilege in this House, thanks be to God. The Wireless Group controls 17.6% of the market through Dublin's Q102, FM104, Cork's 96FM, C103, Limerick's Live 95FM and LMFM. The current maximum permitted ownership level is 25%.

The point I am making is that between Kerry FM and all the other organisations, we must ask whether independent local radio is independent any more. Is it becoming a commodity that is sold, resold and registered? I think the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland has questions to answer in this regard. I suggest that the Minister, Deputy Bruton, should come to the House for a debate. I would like to hear the views of Members of this House who have a great deal of experience of broadcasting, local radio and the benefits of local radio. I want to say categorically that our local radio station, Shannonside Northern Sound, which is owned by the Kerry group, is very fair and impartial. If it did not exist, most ordinary Deputies, Senators and councillors in the area would never get on the airwaves. We would not want to be relying on RTÉ. I see the same small clique every night on different RTÉ programmes and again on Saturday and Sunday. The people in this group are controlled by media PR people who get them on those programmes. It seems to me that the ordinary Deputy, Senator or councillor is excluded. As far as I am concerned, RTÉ does not represent the ordinary people. It represents an elite who have control of the airwaves. I hear Senator Craughwell on the airwaves regularly. He used to be on when he was going for President.