27th May 2003

PRESS RELEASE

GREENS CRITICISE CLAMPDOWN ON PIRATE RADIO

The Green Party today criticised the Minister for Justice for the recent clampdown on pirate radio in Dublin. The Party has tabled a question to the Minister asking him to clarify how many hours of Garda time have been devoted to shutting down unlicensed stations.

Green Party Justice spokesperson, Ciarán Cuffe TD, said today, "Shutting down pirate radio is a restriction on the freedom of speech.  Michael McDowell TD prides
himself on defending the freedom of speech and yet he appears to be clamping
down on one of the few forms of creative musical expression in the city that is not available on mainstream radio."

"We want him to ensure that minority musical tastes are adequately catered for,
and we feel that further broadcasting licenses should be issued for the smaller
minority interest stations such as Jazz FM and Phantom FM."

"Being subjected to Paul McCartney on both RTE Radio One and Today FM is more
than many of us can bear, and we would appeal to the Minister to devote Garda
resources to the more serious crime issues in Ireland. Creative musical
expression is being smothered under a wave of corporate schmaltz."