Radio Review Will Explore Appeals
Mechanism
Dublin, Wednesday, 15th October, 2003
Dermot Ahern TD, Minister for Communications, Marine and
Natural Resources, today said that those who wanted no
political interference in the awarding of radio licences and
then complained when decisions went against them could not have
it both ways.
Speaking in the Seanad, the Minister said he would not
countenance any political or Ministerial interference. In my mind, political interference in
licensing decisions is simply not an option. And as long as I
am Minister I will not countenance such
interference.
And he said there had to be a realisation
that with the sector remaining independently regulated,
interests groups and some politicians would have to accept that
decision-making process.
What we have is an independently
regulated radio sector, established by the Houses of the
Oireachtas on the one hand, and on the other deputations being
led into the Oireachtas to seek to overturn independent
decision-making. People will just have to
face up to reality. They cant have it both ways,
he declared.
The Minister was speaking during a debate
on a report drawn up by the Joint Committee on Communications,
Marine and Natural Resources into local radio
licensing.
The Minister said a review his Department
is carrying out into radio licensing should be completed by the
end of the year. Minister Ahern said that external
experts, headed by OX Associates, would assist in his
review of the licensing of radio services in Ireland.
Minister Ahern said: This review comes at an important
juncture in the development of radio licensing in Ireland. It
will serve to provide a vision for Irish radio broadcasting
policy going forward and consider the processes through
which licences are awarded.
The review will consider the following issues amongst
others:
- the current objectives of radio licensing
- whether there is a need to revisit these objectives
having regard to changes in Irish society and in broadcasting
markets
- the existing powers of the Broadcasting Commission of
Ireland including power to decide type of services to be
provided and franchise areas
- the processes through which radio licences are
awarded
- explore options for an appeals mechanism in relation to
licensing decisions
Local radio in Ireland has been a great success story.
The sector has developed beyond all expectations. The people of
Ireland have been offered a new alternative. Local radio has
provided a new form of high quality programming that is of
relevance to local communities, the Minister said.
He said those who spoke to the Joint Committee had raised
the issue of greater transparency with regard to licence
application analysis and the cost of making a licence
application.
The reports
recommendations and the analysis underpinning them will be
considered by the review I am undertaking.
The Minister said the argument had, for instance been made,
for licence rollover. That is where the existing licence holder
meets all licence conditions that there is scope for automatic
renewal. But that would close off the possibility of
competition and a better applicant receiving a franchise.
The approach to be adopted must always be
informed by what is best for the audience, the Minister
said.
Ends
Further Information on Review Experts
OX are a Netherlands based consultancy group, a wholly owned
subsidiary of the Rabobank Group. The team will be headed by
Hessel Abbink Spaink, Managing Director of Ox Auction Experts
and a specialist in communications market liberalisation
issues.
For further information,
please contact:
Richard Moore
Press Advisor
Department of Communications, Marine and Natural
Resources
Leeson Lane
Dublin 2
Tel: +353-(01) - 678-2440
Fax: +353-(01) - 676-6161
or
Tom Mc Loughlin
Press Officer
Department of Communications, Marine and Natural
Resources
Leeson Lane
Dublin 2
Tel: +353-(0) 1-678-2441
Fax: +353-(0) 1-676-6161