Dublin, Thursday, 14 August 2003

Dermot Ahern T.D., Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources, today outlined plans for a fundamental review of radio licensing in Ireland.

The Minister said, “Having commenced a series of fundamental reforms of Public Service Broadcasting, I now intend to focus upon reform of the independent sector.”

“The Licensing Review will involve a far-reaching assessment of our licensing process. It will include a survey of international best-practice in this area.”

Its high-level objectives are to:

• describe current objectives of radio licensing
• evaluate whether there is a need to revisit these objectives having regard to changes in Irish society and in broadcasting markets         
• consider existing power of BCI including power to decide type of services to be provided and franchise areas

Minister Ahern added, “I am specifically ruling out the possibility of any increased political involvement in the licensing process." 

“The present system, where licensing decisions are made by an independent regulator will not be altered. I will not support the dilution of strong and independent regulation in this area.” 

“My concern is with issues of transparency, cost and fairness within that policy framework. The Licensing Review is designed to examine these issues and to suggest potential reforms, if and where necessary.”

The Minister concluded, “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.” 

“This is an important issue which will shape our broadcasting landscape fundamentally. For that reason that I have decided that 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 that process.”

Terms of Reference attached

Terms Of Reference

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 to address the following issues:

Objectives

·            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         

·            consider existing power of BCI including power to decide type of services to be provided and franchise areas 

Process

·            describe and evaluate existing licensing processes

·            evaluate existing roles of the Executive of the BCI and of the Commission

·            evaluate need for independent\outside expertise in licensing process

·            explore options for an appeals mechanism in relation to licensing decisions

Structural

·            consider what and who should be licensed

·            consider terms of existing and future licences including duration

·            consider issue of licence roll over

·            consider barriers to market entry

Policy Interface

·            evaluate existing policy interface.

ENDS

For further information, please contact:

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