Pirate radio cuts into airport transmissions

Pirate radio may be jeopardising air safety. The announcement comes as aviation officials in Manchester airport recently traced interference to a Dublin transmitter.

This has come to a total of two raids that Gardai made in recent weeks on illegal radio groups were illegal transmitters were found which were believed to be interferring with air traffic control.

Fianna Fail deputy Barry Andrews says that an estimated 70 pirate radio groups are now operating in the country and the risk is very high of them affecting aviation movements,

He says that Irish aviation authorities have now made complaints to the communications regulator and that they would not have done this unless the situation was serious.

He insists the fact that a Dublin based pirate radio can be picked up in Manchester is a cause for concern.