Since RTE announced their plan to close their longwave radio service, I have followed the situation closely.
Visiting Britain, I have heard first-hand the concerns raised by members of the Irish community about the proposed closure, in particular the concerns of the older members of our community.
My colleague, Jimmy Deenihan T.D., the Minister of State for Diaspora Affairs, has also met with concerned groups and individuals, and our Embassy in London stays in ongoing contact with them.
While this is an operational matter for RTE, I have written to the Director General of RTE to draw his attention to the depth of concern among the Irish community in Britain about the proposed closure.
I welcome the fact that the closure, initially planned for October, has been deferred until January and I hope that the interim period can be used to find a satisfactory solution for all concerned.