Rt needs to reflect rural tastes too says penrose

RTÉ radio needs to reflect what "people on the ground" in rural Ireland are listening to, according to Deputy Willie Penrose.

A long time critic of what he sees as RTÉ's lack of support for local acts, Deputy Penrose says that the public service broadcaster should “seriously examine” its “failure to give an opportunity to Irish musicians across the airwaves”.

One possible solution, he says, is the introduction of a quota system similar to the one employed in France.

“It is a huge industry and RTÉ is not playing its role. It is easier for the camel to get through the eye of a needle than for certain acts to get on RTÉ. I have evidence of that.”

Country and Irish acts are “bringing the people back into the ballrooms, despite not getting decent air-play on RTÉ, not because of it. People are paying for their albums and paying for the music and employing people. These musicians are a major employer.”

Deputy Penrose made his remarks at a recent meeting of the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport and Communications at which RTÉ’s new chairman Moya Doherty gave a presentation.

Ms Doherty said that she was “singing from the same hymn sheet" as Deputy Penrose and that RTÉ should reflect the “broad church of music” in Irish culture.

One man who agrees with Deputy Penrose is veteran musician Mick Foster, who says that many in RTÉ "figure the Ireland finishes in Lucan".