Committee recommends radio licence appeal mechanism

The Oireachtas committee on communications has recommended nine changes to the way in which applications for local radio licences are processed.

In a report being published today, the committee said an appeal system should be established to adjudicate on contested licence decisions made by the Broadcasting Commission of Ireland.

Committee chairman Noel O'Flynn said: "We have to have some form of arbitration mechanism in place to avoid costly judicial reviews in the courts by unhappy or dissatisfied applicants."

The committee has also called for greater transparency in the BCI's decision-making process, a reduction in the cost of licence applications to encourage more contestants and a more detailed examination of the ownership of local radio stations.