asked the Minister for Communications the number of meetings held by the Interim Local Radio Commission; the location of such meetings; and the cost of the commission to date.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Interim Local Radio Commission.
15.
The Interim Local Radio Commission and their sub-committees have met on 16 occasions to date — 14 times in Dublin, once in Mullingar and once in Cork. The cost of the Interim Local Radio Commission to date is £44,000 approximately.
Will the Minister state if the Interim Local Radio Commission have made any recommendations to him in relation to local broadcasting?
The Interim Local Radio Commission have spent the past year carrying out research and studies with regard to local radio and the potential for the service. We have had several discussions with them. However, to say they have made formal proposals would not be correct, although they have intimated the kind of format they think would be viable in a local radio system.
Is the Minister prepared to publish the interim recommendations of the commission in view of the long delay that has occurred? The Minister must admit it is very disappointing that after three-and-a-half years in Government the Bill dealing with local radio has not been passed by this House. It was first debated on 5 July 1985 but progress has not been made in the matter. In the meantime, will the Minister at least publish the recommendations of the Interim Local Radio Commission to give everyone an opportunity to know the plans of the commission and of the Government for the development of local radio?
I am not sure one could call them plans as such. They are thoughts on proposals in relation to local radio and I would have to consider if they are in a format suitable for publication. Certainly, I will consider the point made by the Deputy. I am grateful for his implied welcome for the legislation with regard to this matter. I presume that means he will support the Bill when it comes before the House?
Seriously, I wonder what have the commission achieved in their 16 meetings during the past 12 months? What are they doing? I know they are a smokescreen to shield the Minister from criticism.
We cannot get into that argument now. This is Question Time.
There are more than 60 independent stations broadcasting at this time but they have not a licence between them. The Minister cannot just stand idly by and allow this to continue without taking appropriate action. The commission are not carrying out their responsibilities in a serious way. They have met 16 times but I have not heard from them either publicly or privately.
The Deputy is making a speech and that is not in order at Question Time.
I should like to assure the Deputy that the Interim Local Radio Commission have done much useful and essential work in the past year, including having discussions with RTE and doing much research regarding the basis for local radio and the kind of service that might be available on a community basis or on a wider basis in the future. It is true in the absence of any progress with regard to the legislation that it is difficult to know how much extra work the commission can do in the future unless we make progress in the matter. With regard to Deputy Leyden's assertion that the Interim Local Radio Commission are a smokescreen to protect the Minister against criticism, that is not so. The commission have been doing useful work. I think criticism of the Minister in this case is justified because I have not been able to get through legislation that meets with the approval of the House and I consider I have failed in that regard. However, I continue to try. Equally, I am determined not to bring proposals before the House, or to accept proposals, that I do not consider would be in the long-term interests of broadcasting. While I accept the criticism, I will not be pushed into doing what I think is wrong.
I would remind the Minister that he has published a Bill that was debated here on 5 July 1985. Is that Bill dead and gone?
I will not allow a debate on the Bill.
If the Deputy can assure me publicly that he will support the Bill there will be no difficulty about the matter——
We will bring in our own Bill. We will not rely on the Minister's Bill.
Fianna Fáil brought in two Bills but neither of them was passed. I would welcome the support of the Deputy in this matter.
I will welcome the Minister's support for my Bill.