14 MONDAY FEBRUARY 11 2008 NEWS FEATURE RTE radio to improve FM coverage in north Switch-off Station boasts some of Ireland’s top presenters gets poor political reception By Valerie Robinson 32 counties. and Claire Simpson “RTE cannot claim to be progressive if it pursues a OLITICIANS on reduction in service policy.” both sides of the Sinn Fein MLA Barry McEl- border have ex- duff said it was “of absolute pressed concerns importance” that listeners P about RTE’s deci- across Ireland were able to sion to drop its Radio 1 access RTE radio. medium-wave service. “RTE is Ireland’s national SDLP assembly member broadcaster,” he said. PJ Bradley said it “links the “It is part of our heritage, nation north and south”. culture and identity. “Its prime programmes of “I was brought up in a house news and current affairs are where my mother was always speech-based and unlike long talking about ‘crackling to- wave MW is available on all wards Athlone’ when she was dual-band radios,” he said. tuning the radio. “Medium wave is much eas- “RTE has responsibilities, ier to tune than FM no matter duties and obligations to- where one travels in Ireland. wards all of its listeners in the north.” Mr McElduff said he was frustrated that he was un- able to get a clear recep- tion for many RTE Radio 1 programmes. “It is the national “I find it difficult to use RTE broadcaster and it perfectly. I have to angle the radio and fix the aerial and must demonstrate in 2008 it’s not acceptable,” he said. its commitment to The Republic’s main opposi- the people of tion party said it was con- cerned that RTE had made its Ireland” decision without “any formal PJ Bradley consultation process’’. Fine Gael communications ■ FAMILIAR VOICES: Clockwise from top left, RTE Radio 1 presenters Marian Finucane, Pat Kenny, Joe Duffy and Ryan Tubridy spokesman Simon Coveney said the broadcaster had a RTE Radio 1 is home to some of He was also co-presenter of the 1988 Duffy presents radio interview and duty to its listeners. Ireland’s most high-profile and Eurovision Song Contest. phone-in show Liveline every weekday He said its public service best-paid presenters. Kenny works for RTE on a contract from 1.45pm to 3pm. remit included a responsibil- In 2006 the state broadcaster basis, along with three of Radio 1’s RTE’s fourth highest earner, he was “The elderly and those with ity to anticipate and deal with released details of its presenters’ best paid presenters, Marian paid G 279,000 (£208,000) in 2004. limited vision are not into any potential negative social 2004 salaries with Pat Kenny coming Finucane, Joe Duffy and Ryan Tubridy. He studied social work at Trinity podcasts and the internet consequences of changes to out as the highest paid broadcaster Finucane, described by President Mary College Dublin and reportedly shared a and they do not have the their broadcasting platforms. thanks to his dual careers as a radio McAleese as “the country’s top female house with former Labour leader Dick computer literacy to use any- “The main driver behind and television host. broadcaster”, presents The Marian Spring during that time. thing more modern than the this decision is that it costs The 60-year-old, who presents one of Finucane Show , the highest-rated He famously gave one of the readings radio.” RTE g 1.5 million (£1.1 million) Radio 1’s most popular shows – Today weekend radio show in Ireland. at the Papal Mass in Galway racetrack Mr Bradley said RTE must per annum to power the MW with Pat Kenny – as well as RTE1’s The 57-year-old, a trained architect, in 1979, along with former Bishop of reverse its decision to “cut transmission network and so flagship TV programme The Late Late also started work in RTE as a Galway Dr Eamon Casey and Fr off” so many people, espe- it is a cost saving exercise,” Show , earned G 899,000 (£670,000). continuity announcer in 1974. Michael Cleary. cially in the six counties. Mr Coveney said. A former chemical engineer, Kenny She took over veteran broadcaster Tubridy (34) is one of Radio 1’s “It is the national broad- “I am all in favour of provid- first began working for RTE as a Gay Byrne’s early morning slot after he youngest presenters. He was paid caster and it must demon- ing greater efficiency and continuity announcer in the 1970s. retired in 1999. G 216,000 (£161,000). He also has strate its commitment to the cost cutting where appropri- He presented political discussion show In 2005 her 9am weekday slot was twin careers in radio and television, people of Ireland,’’ he said. ate. However, decisions by Saturday View on Radio 1 and became taken over by Tubridy and her show presenting The Tubridy Show on the “Why, even back in 1926 RTE always need to take a television broadcaster on the Today was moved to weekends. former and his Saturday night chat when Radio Eireann broad- account of their public ser- Tonight current affairs programme in She was paid G 439,000 (£327,000) in show Tubridy Tonight on the latter. cast from Athlone the signal vice remit to rural as well as the mid 1980s. 2004 and is RTE’s third highest earner. Claire Simpson was available in each of the urban listeners.” Regulator contradicts RTE claim that MW By Claire Simpson wave was because MW is ern Ireland, said the effects of effects on humans at the vari- opposed to phones or oth- broadcast radio masts,” a “environmentally unsound”. radio waves on humans had ous frequencies have been er mobile radios) it has ne- spokeswoman said. TE has claimed that However, Ofcom, which reg- never been highlighted as a considered but due to the rel- ver been a real issue other “As for the visual environ- part of its reason for ax- ulates the communications major concern. ative distance from humans than for people working on mental impact it is generally R ing Radio 1 on medium industry in Britain and North- “We are aware that radiation of broadcast transmitters (as or immediately adjacent to accepted that this is reduced.