FOLLOWING recent media speculation on RTE’s Primetime, Limerick Senator Kieran O’Donnell has this week in the Seanad called on the RTE executive and board to publicly confirm that Lyric fm has a secure future in Limerick.
RTE, he said, must dispel any further notions of a threat to it’s continued broadcasting, since its first started here over 20 years ago in May 1999.
Senator O’Donnell has also written directly to RTE board chairperson Moya Doherty and RTE Director General Dee Forbes making this request. Furthermore, Senator O’Donnell has also raised the matter with the two respective Ministers, Minister for Communications Richard Bruton TD and Minister for Culture Josepha Madigan.
“Following recent media speculation on RTE’s Primetime about the future of RTE Lyric fm in Limerick City. I raised the issue in the Seanad on Tuesday. I publicly called on the RTE executive and board to give certainty to Lyric fm on broadcasting from here.
“This followed my visit to Lyric fm on Monday at their Cornmarket Square studio in the heart of Limerick City. Understandably, staff are very apprehensive about their future,” said Senator O’Donnell.
“It is my understanding that the Financial review report of RTE is down for RTE board consideration later this week. Therefore in this context, I have also written to the RTE board Chairperson Moya Doherty and RTE Director General Dee Forbes requesting that as part of this review they now publicly confirm a secure future for Lyric fm in Limerick and dispel any further notions of a threat to it’s continued broadcasting.
“I have also raised this matter with the two respective Ministers, Minister for communications Richard Bruton TD and Minister for Culture Josepha Madigan TD.
“In my correspondence with Ms Doherty and Ms Forbes I have highlighted a number of key factors to support the continued broadcasting by Lyric fm from their Limerick studio and home.
“As a classical music and arts station, I pointed out that Lyric fm is the essence of quality and consistent public service broadcasting and it enhances the content and brand of RTE.
“Both from a cultural and regional development policy basis it is essential that Lyric fm continues to broadcast from Limerick. Lyric fm has become an integral part of the cultural and civic life here in Limerick. Furthermore, in the purpose built studios, it also houses the regional RTE broadcasting unit which is vital for us here.
“I noted that currently Lyric fm has the lowest average cost per transmission hour within the RTE broadcasting group and this must be reflected in any review by the RTE executive.
“Back in 1996, on foot of a Green paper, RTE successfully campaigned for Lyric fm which was approved by the then Minister for Arts, Culture and our current President of Ireland Michael D Higgins in February 1997, which thankfully RTE located here in Limerick City.
“RTE must now publicly re-affirm this same support for Lyric fm’s future here in Limerick.”
