Dublin Castle, 19 April 2007
Noel Dempsey T.D., the Minister for Communications, Marine & Natural Resources today opened the 13th Radio Assembly of the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) at Dublin Castle. The Assembly gathers together national broadcasting organisations from across Europe to celebrate 100 years of radio and debate the future of the medium – its technologies, its distribution platforms and its strategies for the next generation of radio use.
Commenting at the opening of the Assembly Minister Dempsey praised the participants for their commitment to public service broadcasting; “The work of the Union has always prioritised the free flow of information in society and I regard this as a fundamental value of democracy. The exchanges of news and programmes, the pioneering developments in technology and programmes of professional development have meant that the EBU continues to strengthen broadcasting’s role in democratic public life.”
Almost 100 broadcasting organisations throughout the world are registered users of the EBU’s news resources for covering events of international interest. This is a highly significant aid to building bonds of mutual understanding in Europe and in the world beyond our continent.
“Broadcasting is culturally distinctive. It carries our signature; it projects the views and the many different voices of societies across Europe that have changed in profound ways over the last decade. I am asking participants attending today that despite the many technological and sociological changes they maintain a customer-focussed approach to their plans that will continue to earn the trust of audiences and the people who pay for the services,” he continued.
“Radio is and will continue to be part of the fabric of Europe’s culture, of its democracy, and of its multi-media communications. What is discovered and discussed at this important assembly will I’m sure have a long-term influence on Europe’s radio services,” concluded Minister Dempsey.
Speech given by Minister Dempsey at today's event