Rónán Mullen (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I echo what Senator Conway-Walsh said.

Tá plé ar na stáisiúin raidió neamhspleácha sa Dáil inniu. Tá plé ar a luach don phobal, ar an t-eolas áitiúil, ar na fadbhanna atá ag cuid den tír, agus ar thábhacht an raidió neamhspleách chun cabhrú leis na limistéir éagsúla sin agus leis na daoine atá iontu agus iad ag iarraidh na seirbhísí atá acu a choimeád agus mar sin de. Bheadh a leithéid de phlé sa Seanad thar a bheith úsáideach agus reachtaíocht scríofa agus réidh ag an Roinn Cumarsáide, Gníomhaithe ar son na hAeráide agus Comhshaoil chun laghdú de 50% ar an tóg a íocann baill den Independent Broadcasters of Ireland chun the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland a choimeád ar an bhfód a chur i bhfeidhm. Mindful of the fact that there will be a debate in the Dáil today on the value of independent broadcasters to the community, we could also do with having a debate on the issue in this House. Local radio stations, in particular, do great work and have a distinctive voice which often reflects local concerns in a way national radio stations do not. At its best, it is a vital conduit. At its worst, of course, there are examples where it can also suffer from the Montrose disease, with affected mid-Atlantic accents, preachy political correctness and so on. The Montrose disease often afflicts people who want to be in Montrose. However, more often than not, we receive a much better service from local radio stations. I would like us to have a debate on their importance, given that a debate is to take place in the Dáil today.

I echo some of what Senator Bacik said. I have spoken many times about the importance of Ireland reaching its commitment to provide 0.7% of GDP in overseas development aid. I would welcome and strongly urge that we make progress in that regard. Even though the right to life of the unborn has been extinguished from the Constitution and we have changed the law dramatically, it does not mean that we need to become zealous advocates of destructive policies in the context of overseas development aid. Pope Francis has spoken about ideological colonisation whereby western countries link aid with western values in the destruction of human life and make it a condition of receiving aid, which is completely the wrong way to go. Innocent unborn children should never be the victims of western governments' policies. There is a need for better maternal healthcare for mothers in the developing world, not the destructive targeting of unborn children. I hope Irish policy will not swing into a negative zone because of the change in the law. I do not believe it is something most Irish people would support. While I agree with some of what Senator Bacik said, I worry about destructive policies following on from constitutional change. It is not the way to go and most Irish people would not support it.