asked the Minister for Communications if he has received any proposal from RTE for extra hours of broadcasting time for Cork Local Radio; and if he will approve such a proposal.
Ceisteanna — Questions. Oral Answers. - Cork Local Radio.
2.
No formal proposal has been put to me.
I disagree with that reply on the basis that I was part of a deputation to the Minister of State seeking to have the broadcasting hours extended in respect of Cork Local Radio. Consequently, I am not at all satisfied with the reply. It is unacceptable to me.
The Deputy can find another way of raising the matter but he may not argue about it here.
In the light of my question and also of the unsatisfactory reply from the Minister, would he not agree that serious consideration should be given to extending the station's hours of broadcasting? That station has served the community well in its limited time of three hour's broadcasting. Is the Minister aware that the last extension in the hours of broadcasting was granted to the station by Deputy Wilson in 1982 when he was in charge of the Department? I am asking the Minister to assure the House and also Cork Local Radio that he will consider seriously an extension of their hours of broadcasting?
Deputy Wilson was a fine Minister.
I thank the Minister.
Like Deputy Lyons, he is also a fine gentlemen but that does not alter the facts of the subject under discussion. Deputy Lyons seems to be objecting to the reply which was that no formal proposal has been put to me in the matter. That is the position. There have been all sorts of suggestions down through the years relating to all aspects of local radio but there has been no formal proposal in relation to the extension of the broadcasting hours of Cork Local Radio. In the context of the development of local radio policy, a development on which I hope to make some progress in the coming weeks, I trust that the provisions in respect of Cork will be included in that consideration. Despite what Deputy Lyons says, the reply I gave was correct.
We are rather surprised at the reply. I was under the impression, as was my colleague, Deputy Lyons, from sources within Cork radio and RTE, that an application had been made to the Minister. I appeal at this stage to RTE to make a formal application to the Minister for an extension of hours. Will the Minister indicate that he agrees to an extension of the hours of Cork radio? Is the Minister aware that Cork Local Radio are competing with ERI which is an illegal radio station in the Cork region? Does the Minister not find it inconsistent that as Minister he would not be favourable towards extending the hours of a legal radio station which is competing with an illegal station there? It is inconsistent that the Minister would not make arrangements for an extension of the hours of Cork radio. I compliment Cork Local Radio on their activities in providing a fine broadcasting service.
We have 24 questions on the Order Paper and if we continue in this way we will dispose of very few of them.
Will the Minister give a positive response to RTE on foot of an application for Cork Local Radio?
I am open to any suggestion for Cork Local Radio and for local radio in general and of course I will consider any proposals. I hope to be in a position to make a statement on progress in the area of local radio in the next few weeks. As the House is aware, we have run into some difficulties on the Second Stage of the Local Radio Bill. Obviously, I want a Bill which will stand the test of time and which will meet with the approval of this House. It is not easy to isolate aspects of local radio without taking the whole picture into account. Nonetheless, any proposals will be considered.
The Minister's reply has prompted me to ask a final supplementary based on the Minister's reference to the local broadcasting Bill. We are all aware of the——
We cannot discuss it now.
——efforts which have been made to get that Bill back in here. I will not accept from the Minister that consideration of the extension of hours for Cork Local Radio depends on this Government's reintroduction of the local broadcasting Bill into the Dáil. That is a statement of fact.
It may be a statement but it is not a question.