Malcolm Byrne (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I endorse the principle of what Senator Sherlock is trying to achieve, but the practicalities of how it will operate present a challenge. I wonder if this would not be better serviced in the area of codes that can be drawn up. Part of it is also going to be about encouraging radio stations to take action. As she mentioned, quite a number of them have done that. One of the difficulties is in the area of classical music, where there is a big challenge about getting more women performing. I was at a wonderful piece in the concert hall last Friday where they matched Clara Schumann with Brahms. We are seeing more efforts being made there but part of the problem for, say, Lyric FM, is that there is not a sufficient amount of work by female composers being performed and there is not a large number of female artists being encouraged. It is a bigger challenge that needs to be taken on board. I agree with principle of quotas and they have their place but there may be a difficulty here for small local radio stations if we are too prescriptive.Radio stations may use the quota and see it as an excuse rather than a way to encourage more voices to come along. I get the point that was made about Irish music. We need to think about areas like classical music where there is a much bigger challenge in terms of what needs to be done. The principle makes sense. Would it be better, even if quotas are involved, for the commission to draft a code and to do so as part of a broader programme? As has been said, it is not that the radio stations just introduced a quota. They have actively sought alternative voices. Similarly, there is a challenge within certain sectors of the music industry to ensure that more female voices come through while in other sectors of the arts there are challenges in terms of getting more male voices. I see where the Labour Party group is coming from but is this amendment a blunt instrument?