(Carlow-Kilkenny): Local radio can produce shows with very little back-up. If I were to be critical of RTE, it would be that the list of credits following programmes seems to go on forever naming producers, lighting technicians, studio operators, sound technicians and floor personnel. Local radio people seem to be able to do the research, make the telephone calls between the advertisements and keep the show going. In fairness to all those involved in the production of these shows, it is a marvellous tribute to their skills that day after day they go in to make new programmes. There is no routine. “Morning Ireland” must have topics to discuss every morning and, as I try to wake up and listen to what is going on, I find others are alert, giving their views and switching from one topic to the next. Instead of criticising what they have done and the mistakes they have made, I will give them blanket praise. I appreciate what they are trying to do and that it is not easy.
The Bill will open the floodgates to a certain extent. We will be able to access many new stations if DTT comes into play. When I saw the letters "DTT" first, it reminded me of my youth when DDT managed to clear the country of all forms of parasites, fleas and crickets, which used keep everyone awake. DDT was magical. I hope that DTT does for television what DDT did for all the vermin that survived after the war.
If a lot of extra stations come on the air it will pose a difficulty in that there will be a lowering of standards in many cases. Some of what is broadcast on foreign television stations does not do much to uphold morality. That is one of the risks we face when these stations are made available to homes across the country.
I believe one must purchase a black box to get reception on DTT. I do not know whether that is a costly affair, but perhaps the Minister will explain what people must do to access this new system.
I was surprised when a previous speaker mentioned that in Britain only 8 per cent were prepared to have it. I know it presents a better picture, but it will also present us with a bigger choice of pictures.
RTE is often criticised for the drop in listenership. That is unfair. Local radio, which has done almost as much for rural Ireland as rural electrification did for it 50 years ago, has been a marvellous advance for people who want to hear what is happening locally. I feel sorry for radio producers and programme presenters in RTE who must compete with local radio. It would be almost impossible for their ratings not to drop. Local radio listenership is increasing, and one cannot listen to two radio stations at the same time. The print media should exercise common sense when it reports stories about the drop in RTE Radio 1 and 2FM listenership because local radio, which has been in existence for about ten years, seems to be improving constantly. Many people who started out as novices and amateurs in local radio stations are now quite professional. Some have moved to RTE and others have refused offers from RTE because they are happy in their own areas.
When it comes to sports coverage, local radio provides a tremendous service on Sundays. My local radio station, CKR, received the McNamee award for the best sports programme on local radio. That programme provides coverage of, and results from, all kinds of sporting events around the world. Local radio gives meaning to people's lives because it keeps them abreast of events in their areas. Even the broadcasting of death notices on local radio serves a great purpose. People might not have time to read such notices in the newspapers but they can hear them on the radio. Even though politicians are often accused of attending funerals to seek votes, in my opinion everyone should attend funerals to show their Christian values. I have no qualms about attending funerals and I take no notice of those who say I do so only to gain votes. The least we can do is offer help when people need it.
Local radio stations operate under a number of disadvantages, one of which is the payment of a levy. I am glad the Bill removes that levy because local radio stations will have scope to expand their services, spend money on producing higher quality programmes and perhaps employ additional staff. The Bill also makes provision for £500,000 to be distributed among local radio stations. I do not know how much each will receive, but I suggest CKR, which has won an award, should receive the bulk of the money because of the standard of programmes it produces. I am sure the Minister will note that point.
The removal of the levy and the provision of funding are two major aspects of the Bill. That is the correct way to proceed. I know local radio stations sought funding from part of the licence fee. They have a huge listenership and it is important that they should be encouraged to improve the programmes they produce, etc.
I referred earlier to the new stations, some of which, if experience is anything to go by, might not appeal to everyone. For that reason, I support the application of United Christian Broadcasters Limited, which has tried to re-broadcast a religious programme that originates in England. A previous speaker referred to proselytising but I see nothing wrong with broadcasting a religious programme on the radio. If people want to listen to such a programme, that is fine. It might negative the effect of some of the trash being broadcast on radio and, in particular, television. There is obviously a technical difficulty in granting the United Christian Broadcasters a licence but on the basis of its worth the Minister should use her influence to ensure that is granted.
Like everyone else, I have been approached by the UCB group. Long before I became familiar with it I met people in Carlow who asked me why the religious programme to which they listened had been taken off the air. I heard the programme by chance but I did not miss it after it was taken off the air because I was not a regular listener. Many people are anxious that a religious programme of this nature should be broadcast. If its content takes the form of scripture readings, it might, as already stated, negative some of the nonsense broadcast in other programmes.
This matter does not involve a sect trying to push its wares. A document relating to it was circulated to Members and I notice Bishop Brendan Comiskey is willing to support the application of the United Christian Broadcasters. Reverend Laurence Graham of the Methodist Church, Alastair Kennedy of the Presbyterian Church and Fergus A. Ryan of the Fellowship Bible Church are also willing to support it. The costs involved in allowing the broadcast to proceed will be small because the programme involves a re-broadcast of material which originates in England. I do not know if the Minister has a say in this matter. I believe the Independent Radio and Television Commission, or whatever it is now called, has responsibility in this area and it should consider this application favourably.
RTE produces many political programmes which we applaud when we are shown in a favourable light but which we do not like when they fail to do so. Local radio stations, which provide a great service during election campaigns, are handicapped in this regard. I can speak only from my experience of the stations in my area, but once the candidates for the recent local elections were chosen, these stations broadcast 19 programmes designed to give an opportunity to every candidate to express their views. The stations could not charge for advertising, which is wrong. Why should RTE receive massive amounts of money for political advertising while local radio stations cannot do so? If such stations provide a service to people, particularly during local elections, why should they not be allowed to charge for advertising?
I accept that there is a need to be careful and to ensure such advertising is not abused. The programmes produced by local radio stations during the local elections required a great deal of organising in a short period because they had to wait until the candidates were chosen. Everyone had the opportunity to prove whether they should be elected. One of the disadvantages of appearing on television or radio is that one can prove that one should not be elected or re-elected. It is very difficult to get the balance right.
Local radio stations should be permitted to charge for advertising. Like every other commercial company, they should be entitled to make money. A great deal of money is spent on advertisements in the print media. I firmly believe much of this is wasted because people often skip over a page to avoid reading an advertisement. At least if an advertisement is played on the radio, people are inclined not to change the station and they hear it in spite of themselves, whereas a person reading the newspaper has the option of skipping ahead to the sports page or some other page, particularly if they do not want to read about politics.
Some radio programmes can be so fascinating that they can represent a threat to people listening to them while driving their cars because they do not concentrate on what they are doing. However, they help to make a journey seem much shorter, particularly if one does not have a passenger in the car. In the past, long journeys were boring, but nowadays radio offers a great choice of programmes to which one can listen.
With regard to education, the entire concept of broadcasting has changed our lives a great deal because people can learn about things more quickly. In the past, they had to engage in a great deal of reading and research but now they need only turn on the television to learn about many subjects. Nature programmes, and so on, have been of great benefit to children at school. Teachers can no longer keep ahead of their students as a result of what they see on television and on the Internet. These tools have proven to be of great assistance to the entire community.
