Dermot Ahern Welcomes Oireachtas Joint Committee Report on Radio Licensing.

Thursday, 29 May, 2003

Dermot Ahern TD, Minister for Communications, Marine & Natural Resources, today welcomed the Report of the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Communications, Marine & Natural Resources on Radio Licensing.

Today I am announcing my intention to initiate a review of the local radio licensing regime in Ireland. I will include the findings of the Joint Oireachtas Committee in this process. 

With the forthcoming establishment of the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland and with the conclusion of the present round of licensing, this is an opportune time to conduct such a review.

I am specifically ruling out the possibility of any increased Ministerial or political involvement in the licensing process. In my opinion, the existing policy framework, where licensing decisions are made by an independent regulator has worked well. The professionalism and performance of the Broadcasting Commission of Ireland to date has vindicated this system. My only concern is for issues of cost, fairness and transparency within that policy framework.

In general, I want to examine the following issues which have arisen during the present licensing round;:

·    The need for an appeals mechanism to deal with BCI/BAI licensing decisions.

·    The need to reduce costs of applying for a licence without impairing the effectiveness of the process.

·    The need to ensure that the BCI/BAI is seen to be fully accountable and objective in its decisions.

This is an important issue which deserves the widest input possible. To that end, the Review will include a public consultation process. I look forward to the input of the BCI, the Joint Oireachtas Committee, the broadcasting stakeholders and the listening audience in this process.

ENDS

For further information, please contact:

Richard Moore

Press Advisor

Department of Communications, Marine and Natural Resources

Leeson Lane

Dublin 2

Tel: +353-(0) 1-678-2440

Fax: +353-(0) 1-676-6161