RTE: we get to have our say!
By Niamh Hennessy
Irish politicians will sit down after Christmas to discuss the possibility
of bringing RTÉ to Britain — and The Irish Post will be there
to represent YOU.
A high-powered government committee is set to consider a new Bill which
will enable the State broadcaster to beam programmes over the Irish Sea.
And The Irish Post is preparing to put your views on the issue to the
men and women charged with making the decision.
The Irish Government’s Committee on Communications, Marine and Natural
Resources is due to start hearings in Dublin on the Broadcasting Bill
in early January.
The Irish Post will be present to put the views of the community in Britain.
Over the past few months we have built support from politicians across
Ireland who say they will support our cause.
We have also contacted every politician on the Committee to explain the
importance of the campaign.
To further the cause of the Irish in Britain we have also been co-operating
with a research group made up of experts from the National University
of Ireland in Maynooth, Letterkenny Institute of Technology and Queen’s
University Belfast who have been appointed to analyse the contents of
the Broadcasting Bill and any submissions made.
Cork politician Deputy John Dennehy has even tabled a motion on behalf
of The Irish Post to the Communications Minister Noel Dempsey calling
for RTÉ to be made available in Britain.
He said: “Coming at a time when initiatives are being pursued to
assist Irish citizens living abroad particularly those who may have encountered
hardship I would fully support moves to have RTÉ available in Britain.”
Minister Dempsey said he was hopeful a dedicated RTÉ service could
be established.
He said: “It is proposed to amend the public service remits of RTÉ
and TG4 to allow for the provision and public funding of broadcasting
services to Irish communities in Britain.”
To build our campaign we are asking you the readers to help us by pledging
your support.
We will bring your letters and e-mails with us to Dublin in January and
make sure they are not ignored.
To pledge your support write to: The Irish Post, Cambridge House,
Cambridge Grove, Hammersmith, London, W6 0LE or e-mail: irishpost@irishpost.co.uk.
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