Eugene Murphy (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I got a call earlier to remind me today is World Radio Day. I am not sure if it is today or it was yesterday but I am going to say it is today. I spent 20 years producing and presenting music programmes, documentaries and everything else, and I want us all to note again the importance of radio in our everyday lives. National, regional and local radio tell real stories and stories about communities. Radio assists and helps people. The Leader and I are well used to Midwest Radio. I heard my colleague Senator Maria Byrne on Shannonside FM, my local station. There are also Ocean FM and Midlands 103. There is also local radio in Cork, as the Cathaoirleach knows. In a period of our lives when social media, despite its good points, can do such terrible damage, we should be championing the cause of our radio stations more and more.

I was travelling around on Saturday and listened to the first-class production and presentation of the funeral of John Bruton by RTÉ. My mother told me that the television coverage was absolutely fantastic. That is true, real media that provide a voice for everybody. Some 98% of the time, those media are putting out stories that need to be put out and are helping communities and I acknowledge that. Perhaps at some time the Minister will come in and we can look again at the future of radio and our media. People have different ways of associating with media, but there is a lot to be got from listening to the radio. All of us, particularly Members of Parliament, should support it.