KJ
30th September 2002, 03:44
Found this in John's news section
"After five years, the Flood Tribunal has released its interim report. There were a number of key points concerning Century Radio, the national station which was awarded a licence in 1989 but lasted only two years on air.
Justice Flood has found that a £35,000 payment to then minister for communications Ray Burke by Century Radio owner Oliver Barry on 26th May 1989, was a corrupt payment and was not intended by Barry to be a political donation to Burke or to Fianna Fáil. This followed the award of the new national licence to Century.
It was also found that a ministerial directive obliging RTÉ to provide its facilities to Century, issued by Burke on March 14th, 1989, was issued to advance the private interests of the promoters of Century and not to serve the public interest.
Further, in proposing legislation which would have had the effect of curbing RTÉ's advertising, altering the format of 2FM, and diverting broadcasting licence fee income from RTÉ to independent broadcasters, Burke was acting in response to demands made of him by the promoters of Century and was not serving the public interest.
The payment of £35,000 to Ray Burke by Oliver Barry ensured that he was available to serve the interests of Century's promoters, as is evidenced by his willingness to meet with their bankers and to give them assurances that he would take steps, including, if necessary, the introduction of legislation which would be to Century's financial benefit"
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Tis a pity it all went pear shaped towards the end for Century because they were turning into a damn good station (and the warmest/best audio Ive probably ever heard on Irish airwaves)
Why oh why arent the BCI a board of ex/and/or experienced radio heads like John Clarke, Colm Hayes etc??
What is there at the moment is a bunch of old men looking after their own interests and envelopes
KJ
"After five years, the Flood Tribunal has released its interim report. There were a number of key points concerning Century Radio, the national station which was awarded a licence in 1989 but lasted only two years on air.
Justice Flood has found that a £35,000 payment to then minister for communications Ray Burke by Century Radio owner Oliver Barry on 26th May 1989, was a corrupt payment and was not intended by Barry to be a political donation to Burke or to Fianna Fáil. This followed the award of the new national licence to Century.
It was also found that a ministerial directive obliging RTÉ to provide its facilities to Century, issued by Burke on March 14th, 1989, was issued to advance the private interests of the promoters of Century and not to serve the public interest.
Further, in proposing legislation which would have had the effect of curbing RTÉ's advertising, altering the format of 2FM, and diverting broadcasting licence fee income from RTÉ to independent broadcasters, Burke was acting in response to demands made of him by the promoters of Century and was not serving the public interest.
The payment of £35,000 to Ray Burke by Oliver Barry ensured that he was available to serve the interests of Century's promoters, as is evidenced by his willingness to meet with their bankers and to give them assurances that he would take steps, including, if necessary, the introduction of legislation which would be to Century's financial benefit"
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Tis a pity it all went pear shaped towards the end for Century because they were turning into a damn good station (and the warmest/best audio Ive probably ever heard on Irish airwaves)
Why oh why arent the BCI a board of ex/and/or experienced radio heads like John Clarke, Colm Hayes etc??
What is there at the moment is a bunch of old men looking after their own interests and envelopes
KJ