Vol. 429 No. 8
77 Ms. McManus asked the Minister for Arts, Culture and the Gaeltacht the measures, if any, he is taking to ensure that commercial local radio broadcasting remains viable as promised in the Programme for a Partnership Government 1993-1997; the commitments, if any, he gave to the AIRS delegation when he met them recently; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
86 Mr. J. Bruton and Ms. F. Fitzgerald asked the Minister for Arts, Culture and the Gaeltacht the plans, if any, he has to introduce measures to ensure that commercial local radio broadcasting remains viable as promised in the Programme for a Partnership Government 1993-1997.
Tógfaidh mé Ceisteanna Uimh. 77 agus 86 le chéile.
Deputies will be aware that the Broadcasting Authority (Amendment) Bill, 1993, is the first step in a package of legislative proposals on the structure of broadcasting in Ireland. The Bill deals with two of the urgently critical commitments in the Programme for a Partnership Government. My more long term but no less urgent proposals for the future structure of broadcasting, which will deal with measures to ensure the viability of commercial local radio, will be addressed separately.
I met representatives of the Association of Independent Radio Stations recently and outlined my approach to these issues to them. I confirmed by commitment to the undertaking contained in the Programme for a Partnership Government in so far as it relates to commercial local radio.
