Final whistle for RTÉ overseas listeners

THOUSANDS of Irish emigrants in Britain and overseas will lose access to RTÉ radio coverage of Irish sport if new plans by the national broadcaster go ahead.

RTÉ aims to replace sport with other programmes on its medium and long wave services by July 1.

Foreign Affairs Minister Dermot Ahern yesterday said that the Irish emigrant community depends on the coverage to keep in touch with Irish sport and he urged RTÉ to reconsider its plans.

“There is a vast swathe of the Irish diaspora who tune in for live sports coverage and results every day and particularly at the weekend,” he said.

Mr Ahern had talks with RTÉ’s director general Cathal Goan over the weekend on the issue.

“I appeal to RTÉ to revisit its plans to change its services in light of the hardship it will cause to listeners in Britain and overseas,” he said.

The issue was also raised earlier this week with Mr Ahern by Senator Pascal Mooney, a broadcaster who lived in Britain in the 1980s and 1990s.

RTÉ last night said the new arts and features service would be run on a trial basis and it welcomed feed-back from listeners.

A spokeswoman for the broadcaster said no accurate figures were available for the number of listeners RTÉ attracted outside the Republic of Ireland.

“The new arts and features programming is going ahead as planned at the start of July,” she said.

“The decision was made by management in response to listeners who complained that there was no alternative to several hours of sports coverage at the weekends.

“The new service will be on a trial basis but RTÉ welcomes feedback and will continuously monitor the reaction of listeners.”