Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 359: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the extent to which local radio stations throughout the country have remained local in the context of ownership and/or control since the original granting of their respective licenses; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31007/12]

Pat Rabbitte (Dublin South West, Labour)
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The Broadcasting Act 2009 Act provides the statutory framework for the licensing and regulation of broadcasting and multiplex services in Ireland. The 2009 Act also established the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland (BAI) to regulate content across all Irish broadcasting services and it sets out a range of general and specific objectives for the BAI including ensuring the provision of open and pluralistic broadcasting services. Part 6 of the 2009 Act, deals with broadcasting contracts for commercial and community broadcasters. This Part recognises the continued importance and need for community broadcasting, and sets out the conditions under which such licences can be granted.

In relation to the licensing of local and commercial broadcasters, the 2009 Act assigns these functions to the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland (BAI), which is an independent statutory body. I have, however, passed the Deputy's query to the BAI and asked the Authority to reply directly to him.