Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 24 February 2004
107 Mr. Kehoe asked the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources the terms of reference of the review of radio licensing announced by him in 2003; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5845/04]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe terms of reference for the external review on local radio licensing are to conduct a review of the processes through which radio licences are awarded in Ireland, having regard to comparative international experience, and to make recommendations on the licensing of services in the future. The review will describe current objectives of radio licensing, evaluate whether there is a need to revisit objectives having regard to changes in Irish society and in broadcasting markets, and consider the existing power of the BCI, including the power to decide type of services to be provided and franchise areas.
The review will describe and evaluate existing licensing processes, existing roles of the executive of the BCI and of the commission and the need for independent outside expertise in the licensing process. It will explore options for an appeals mechanism regarding licensing decisions.
Regarding structure, the review will consider what and who should be licensed, the terms of existing and future licences including duration, the issue of licence roll over, and barriers to market entry. The review will also evaluate existing policy interface. The Department has engaged external advisers to assist in the review, who will shortly submit their final report to me.
We all know the importance of local and community radio stations across the country. We are a very cultural country, but very restrictive regarding specialised radio stations outside Dublin, stations featuring dance music, country music or jazz, for example. This is important, because pirate radio stations are being set up in almost every county, specialising in musical areas such as those mentioned. There are numerous radio stations in Dublin, but very few outside it. Cork is a huge city but has only two radio stations, while Waterford has only just established a second station, Beat FM. The licensing area should be carefully looked at because it is very important.
I will call the Deputy for a supplementary question.
Radio Kilkenny is now gone because of the awarding of the licence to the Carlow Kildare group. There is now no radio station for people in Kilkenny, which is a loss, because local and community radio stations are very important to Ireland. I ask the Minister to look carefully at this issue.
I cannot speak about the position of Radio Kilkenny because as the Deputy knows, it is the direct responsibility of the BCI as a result of legislation passed by this House. The Minister has no say in granting or not granting licences to particular organisations. The impression should not be given from this discussion that anything else is the case.
As a result of general unease about the fact that decisions were being made without recourse to an appeals mechanism, I specifically asked that that be looked at in this review. At least if somebody is disaffected — there will always be disaffected people in this type of process given the way it is structured at present — they will have, in effect, a second bite of the cherry, and people would welcome that.
The difference between Dublin and places outside it is a matter, ultimately, for the Broadcasting Commission of Ireland but there is some unused spectrum and one of the issues at which this review will look is whether it can be used. We do not want a situation where we have absolute saturation to such an extent that some of the existing stations would go out of business.
In other European countries, if a specialised radio station is needed, it is taken up. I refer to music, whether Irish music, jazz or otherwise, as an example. The Minister of State, Deputy Browne, knows we are cultural in Enniscorthy.
I did not know the Deputy was into jazz.
It is important we give people an opportunity to have these types of radio stations instead of pirate radio stations being set up to cater for specialised listenership.
I strongly support Deputy Kehoe in this regard. I understand there are 60 stations in Stockholm, for example. Every category of music, current affairs and so on is represented in a city not much larger than Dublin. Does the Minister intend to bring forward legislation on the spectrum? He has made comments over the past six months about these companies making millions of euro out of the sale of licences and the replay of licences. Is he thinking of introducing legislation on the spectrum given that we will soon have the analogue spectrum and so on?
I am even surprising Deputy Broughan with my leftist views. I will be guided by the result of the review which will go out for public consultation so that the public may give its views. Now that we have, in effect, an embedded independent radio sphere — it had to be cosseted to bring it forward — it is high time these issues, such as increasing the number of licences, the appeals and so on, are looked at.
