A Government committee today endorsed a report which calls for wide-ranging reform of the licence awarding process for local radio stations.
The report calls for an independent "non-judicial appeals mechanism" consisting of "one independent eminent person" to adjudicate on complaints against the Broadcasting Commission of Ireland (BCI) or about licencing decisions taken by them.
A number of recent BCI licensing decisions sparked controversy when long-established stations lost their licences to new consortiums. In particular, the failure of the Commission to renew the franchise of Radio Kilkenny which is now the subject of a judicial review in the High Court.
The report contains some damning incitements of the BCI's analysis of applications. One account describes the commission's analysis of the applications as "deficient" with a "number of contradictions and unresolved issues in the process" for which the Commission was unable to provide "satisfactory explanations". It said that such inconsistencies "seriously impinges on the credibility of the process".
The report said there should be "greater transparency" in decisions made by the BCI and recommended they commission independent research to examine the veracity of key data and assumptions made by applicants in their applications.
The cost of licencing and re-licencing applications also needs to be examined, according to the report. The Committee said it was "concerned", to note that an application could cost over €50,000. It agreed that the automatic roll over of licences, or a more fast track approach to renewal should be considered. The report also recommended implementing a quota for local programming.
The BCI hit back at the findings of the committee questioning its impartiality. It said it had not been consulted during the review.
However, Senator Kathleen O'Meara, who compiled the report, said the BCI would be invited before the Oireachtas Committee in the coming weeks, after which a full picture of local independent radio in Ireland would emerge.
The passing of the 1988 Radio and Television Act removed RTÉ's traditional monopoly and provided the ground rules for the introduction of commercial broadcasting in both radio and television. Local stations were initially given 7 year leases. This year, the third cycle of franchise awards are being received, processed and passed.
Minister for Communications, Mr Ahern, said today the time was "opportune" to review the granting of local radio licences..Mr Ahern also said his concerns specifically related to cost, fairness and transparency. And he stressed that the need for an appeals mechanism should be examined.