Vol. 372 No. 13
asked the Minister for Communications the policies he intends to pursue in relation to local radio; whether he intends to introduce or re-introduce legislation in the matter, if so, when; whether he intends to increase the broadcasting hours available to Cork Local Radio; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
14.
asked the Minister for Communications whether he intends allowing expanded broadcasting hours for Cork local radio; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
58.
asked the Minister for Communications the plans, if any, he has for the development and control of local and community radio; if he envisages a role for RTE in such development and control; when he envisages being in a position to make allocations of licences; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
I propose to take Questions Nos. 12, 14 and 58 together.
I intend to bring legislative proposals to provide a legal framework for the licensing and regulation of local and community radio before the Oireachtas in the autumn session. In formulating my proposals I will be considering especially the question of the role for RTE in any new regime.
As regards Cork Local Radio, my predecessor took the view that it would be inappropriate to make any decisions on the extension of broadcasting hours in Cork until the future format of local radio became clearer and I concur with that view.
In view of the urgency which his colleague, Deputy Leyden, demonstrated on many occasions in this House about the regularisation of local radio, what action does the Minister intend to take against existing illegal stations? He has said that the legislation will not be brought before the House in this session. Will things carry on as at present? Has the Minister a view on the matter?
There is a question on the Order Paper in relation to action against illegal stations. When the legislation is introduced in the autumn, unlike previous attempts to get this legislation through the House, it will be passed.
I hope so.
There will be no backbenchers on the Government side causing the same problems as were caused to the previous administration.
It will be interesting to see whether the Leyden philosophy or the Burke philosophy prevails in this matter. I would like to ask the Minister whether he has been approached in relation to applications for private commercial radio in regard to either Dublin or Cork?
Various letters have been received from all sorts of interest groups, individuals and communities who are interested in the forthcoming legislation. There is a feeling among the public that at last something is going to be done about this matter. Various interest groups, community and otherwise, have been sending letters about this matter.
Was that not——
Order.
Can I take it, a Cheann Comhairle, that the Minister is taking on board the views of the National Community Broadcasting Association?
Various groups have been in communication with the Department but I have not got the exact list before me. The community broadcasting groups, private groups, RTE staff and various associations have expressed their views.
It will be a Fianna Fáil radio Bill.
It will be a radio Bill to regularise the situation and it should have been introduced before now.
Deputy Richard Bruton has been offering to speak.
I wish to ask the Minister whether his approach to this legislation is a minimalist one of licensing and control or does he envisage that there would also be controls about the content of radio and the balance of programmes provided? Does he envisage any subsidisation of stations under this legislation?
To take the last part of the question first, there will be absolutely no subsidisation under this legislation. As far as my approach to the Bill is concerned, the Deputy will just have to await the proposals which I will bring to the Government. It is not usual to anticipate the legislation in this format in the House. I will bring the legislation to the Government and the Deputy will then be able to see the range of it, minimalist or otherwise.
In the legislation which the Minister will bring forward in the autumn, will there be any reference to the possibility of independent television operating in this country?
That seems to be a separate question.
May I ask the Minister whether or not he has decided to exclude completely privately-owned stations and whether or not he will provide for special interest stations?
I would not anticipate the legislation at this stage until I bring it to Government and get a Government decision on it. When it is published there will then be an opportunity to discuss it in detail in this House.
