Post by earl on Jan 29, 2008 17:36:10 GMT
RTE must have known that axing its medium-wave service would be unpopular, but the Irish broadcaster could not have expected the furore that has followed.
For generations of Irish nationalists and republicans in Northern Ireland, RTE Radio 1 was a link to the Irish nation beyond the border. Even today, for many in Northern Ireland the "national" broadcaster isn't the BBC, but RTE.
Now, RTE's decision to unplug its medium-wave service on the island has provoked a political row that even encompasses the Good Friday agreement.
The station stands accused of abandoning nationalists in the north who, apart from those living in areas close to the frontier, can listen to RTE radio only via medium wave. They are so incensed that they have taken their grievance all the way up to the Irish foreign minister.
PJ Bradley, a member of the Northern Ireland Assembly for the nationalist SDLP, is a regular listener to RTE Radio 1. "On learning of the proposal I first asked myself, 'Can they do such as thing?'. My concern is already on the desk of the minister for foreign affairs, and I await his views on the matter - including just where the RTE decision slots in with the ethos of the Good Friday agreement."
One of the principles enshrined in the 1998 peace accord was that nationalist/republican culture would be given "parity of esteem" with unionist/British culture. The British government agreed to pour millions into Irish-language projects, for instance, and the Irish government extended its television broadcasting reach far into Northern Ireland. The Irish-language state television station, TG4, can now be viewed in most parts of Northern Ireland.
Bradley and other northern critics of RTE's decision to scrap its medium-wave radio signal say that the broadcaster is depriving nationalist listeners of a vital daily part of their culture.
The Republic's foreign ministry is so concerned about the fears of northern nationalists that it has consulted the department of communications about what can be done. It is understood that one option being considered is for RTE to invest in technology that will allow its FM services to be received all over Northern Ireland.
An RTE spokesperson said: "RTE is acutely aware that listeners in Northern Ireland and the Irish community in Britain need access to Irish news, current affairs and culture. This is why RTE has decided to maintain its LW 252 service, which provides approximately 80% coverage in Britain. RTE, unlike other broadcasting corporations, does not have the population or resources to support three frequencies, which are expensive to operate."
RTE Radio 1 on FM, unless and until it is extended to all of Northern Ireland, is unlikely to calm northern nationalists sense of betrayal.
"FM is fine, but it only reaches out to a small percentage of RTE listeners," says Bradley. "If they had a full service reaching out via FM to all parts of the island, from Fair Head to Mizen Head, I could accept their decision to abandon the medium wave service."
For generations of Irish nationalists and republicans in Northern Ireland, RTE Radio 1 was a link to the Irish nation beyond the border. Even today, for many in Northern Ireland the "national" broadcaster isn't the BBC, but RTE.
Now, RTE's decision to unplug its medium-wave service on the island has provoked a political row that even encompasses the Good Friday agreement.
The station stands accused of abandoning nationalists in the north who, apart from those living in areas close to the frontier, can listen to RTE radio only via medium wave. They are so incensed that they have taken their grievance all the way up to the Irish foreign minister.
PJ Bradley, a member of the Northern Ireland Assembly for the nationalist SDLP, is a regular listener to RTE Radio 1. "On learning of the proposal I first asked myself, 'Can they do such as thing?'. My concern is already on the desk of the minister for foreign affairs, and I await his views on the matter - including just where the RTE decision slots in with the ethos of the Good Friday agreement."
One of the principles enshrined in the 1998 peace accord was that nationalist/republican culture would be given "parity of esteem" with unionist/British culture. The British government agreed to pour millions into Irish-language projects, for instance, and the Irish government extended its television broadcasting reach far into Northern Ireland. The Irish-language state television station, TG4, can now be viewed in most parts of Northern Ireland.
Bradley and other northern critics of RTE's decision to scrap its medium-wave radio signal say that the broadcaster is depriving nationalist listeners of a vital daily part of their culture.
The Republic's foreign ministry is so concerned about the fears of northern nationalists that it has consulted the department of communications about what can be done. It is understood that one option being considered is for RTE to invest in technology that will allow its FM services to be received all over Northern Ireland.
An RTE spokesperson said: "RTE is acutely aware that listeners in Northern Ireland and the Irish community in Britain need access to Irish news, current affairs and culture. This is why RTE has decided to maintain its LW 252 service, which provides approximately 80% coverage in Britain. RTE, unlike other broadcasting corporations, does not have the population or resources to support three frequencies, which are expensive to operate."
RTE Radio 1 on FM, unless and until it is extended to all of Northern Ireland, is unlikely to calm northern nationalists sense of betrayal.
"FM is fine, but it only reaches out to a small percentage of RTE listeners," says Bradley. "If they had a full service reaching out via FM to all parts of the island, from Fair Head to Mizen Head, I could accept their decision to abandon the medium wave service."
