Ned O'Sullivan (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Members will have received a statement today from the Independent Broadcasters of Ireland, IBI, which represents 34 local radio stations across the country. These radio stations, as Members are well aware, give a fantastic service to communities, especially in rural Ireland. However, they are not being treated fairly under the recent announcement regarding State funding. We all know that RTÉ has been given an open cheque book, while the print media have also benefited greatly from the recent VAT changes. There is absolutely zero public funding provided for local radio core news and current affairs public service broadcasting. RTÉ is guaranteed an excess of €720 million this coming year. As practising politicians, we are all aware of the invaluable service that local radio gives to all our local communities.

The schemes outlined by the Minister are of no real practical benefit to a service such as Radio Kerry or Clare FM. There is an additionality clause where stations that are already scheduling a strong quota of public service broadcasting cannot avail or benefit from the schemes. Local news, county politics, community promotion and court reporting, etc., all have a large cohort of listeners on local radio and they provide a vital service.

IBI is more than willing to make these schemes work and have engaged with the Department over the past 18 months to no avail. As it stands, the consensus in local broadcasting is that they will not be able to work the schemes at all. If possible and in the remaining time between here and budget day, I ask the Leader to request the Minister for Finance, Deputy Chambers, take a second look at that.

Before I sit down, I warmly welcome the proposal by Senator O'Reilly that we have a discussion here with the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs, Deputy Martin, on the appalling situation in the Middle East. We approach the horrible date of 7 October, a day that will live forever in the minds of decent people, where Hamas inflicted such savage brutality on innocent young men and women. We could, hopefully, focus this debate a little bit more on Hamas and Hezbollah, which seem to get off scot-free in these Houses.