Radio licensing faces review

THE independent radio licensing system must be completely devoid of all political involvement, Communications Minister Dermot Ahern said yesterday.

Announcing promised plans to review radio licensing, Mr Ahern said there would be no alteration of the role played by the independent radio regulator.

“The present system, where licensing decisions are made by an independent regulator will not be altered. I will not support the dilution of strong and independent regulation in this area,” he said. “I am specifically ruling out the possibility of any increased political involvement in the licensing process.”