Decision on limerick radio licence deferred

THE chairman of the Independent Radio and Television Commission, Mr Niall Stokes, yesterday told each of the four applicants who were invited to make an oral presentation for the Limerick Commercial Radio licence that no final decision would be made until such time as the judicial review had been dealt with by the High Court

At the hearing in Limerick yesterday he told the applicants as you may be aware an application has been made for a judicial review of the IRTC decision to put forward only four of the original nine applicants for oral presentation, has been made to the High Court".

He said the applicants, who sought the review, and the IRTC had both expressed to the High Court a desire to have the review heard as expeditiously as possible.

Mr Stokes said the four applicants who were successful in the initial round of the applications process were those who were invited to the oral hearing.

Thomond Radio Group consortium, chaired by the president of the University of Limerick, Dr Edward Walsh, was the first group to be heard. Dr Walsh said that they had secured the services of "one of the leading broadcasters in the country" to head up their company if they were successful.

He did not disclose the name of the broadcaster but there was speculation at the hearing that he may be Mr Dan Collins, formerly of Kerry Radio, who was the original choice to be chief executive of Radio Ireland.

The biggest shareholder is ICC Bank PLC Limerick with 20 per cent of the £300,000 capital. Dr Walsh's share was given as 13.33 per cent, the same as that held by Lt Col John Phelan, a retired army officer. Mr Joseph Nash Senior, an Askeaton, Co Limerick company director (16.67 per cent), former Rose of Tralee, Ms Muirne Hurley and Dr Pat Wallace of the National Museum each hold 3.33 per cent of the shares.

Mr Tony Brazill (chairman), owner of Limerick Travel presented the submission on behalf of Treaty Broadcasting Group. He said they had a start-up target of £1.4 million and planned to aim at the 25 to 45 year age group which, he said, were not well catered for by radio.

Mr Brazill holds 10 per cent of the shares. The biggest shareholders are Mr Joe Seely, who was formerly chief executive of Westward Cable Television Group, and freelance RTE broadcaster, Mr Michael McNamara, who hold 54 per cent of the shares. Mr Seely said that it was agreed that there would be no disposal of shares over the next three years unless they were to be taken up by some of the other shareholders.

Dr Mirette Corboy, chairwoman, who is former president of the Construction Industry Federation, made the presentation for the Limerick Radio and Media Group. She said they planned to be on the air in the shortest possible time if granted the licence. The consortium includes Mr Paul Claffey, Mr Michael Hughes and Mr John O'Toole, executives of Mid West Radio and North West Radio in Mayo and Sligo.

A Eurovision style Video presentation was given on behalf of the Limerick 2000 Broadcasting Group. It is beaded by the Cranberries business management team of Mr P. J. O'Riordan and Mr Alan McEvoy of Artwest business management. Mr Jim Deegan, chairman, a senior lecturer in economics at the University of Limerick, said they planned an innovative programme with £550,000 start-up capital and a further £250,000 if needed. They planned a £50,000 promotion and a further £50,000 advertising programme.

Mr Deegan said in the first year they estimated a revenue target of £1.1 million and £1.5 million in the third year.

Mr Stokes asked: "What if your target is not achieved in the first year?"

Mr Deegan replied: "We do not see it that way."