Sir, – Further to recent correspondence, the safety of those at sea is critically dependant on the availability of reliable weather forecasts – such as those produced by Met Éireann and broadcast by RTÉ Radio 1. There are over 1,100 boats in the Irish fishing fleet under 8 metres in length. There are many small leisure boats. For various practical reasons, most small boats do not carry marine-VHF equipment to receive broadcasts from the Irish Coast Guard and thus depend on the sea area forecasts broadcast by RTÉ Radio 1 that may be received on a low-cost, portable “transistor radio”.
VHF-FM radio has a limited broadcast range at sea and may be hindered by cliffs and mountains. Longwave transmissions reach many miles out to sea, regardless of time of day or radio conditions.
The planned cessation of RTÉ Radio 1 broadcasts on the longwave radio band will result in the loss of a clear radio signal at sea all around Ireland with consequent loss of access to Met Éireann’s sea area forecasts that are produced every six hours.
Maritime safety will be put at risk unless RTÉ Radio 1 fulfils its “public service broadcasting” remit by continuing to broadcast on longwave. – Yours, etc,
JOHN S HOLMES,
Leenane,
Co Galway.
Sir, – Every civilised country in Europe seems to broadcast on longwave.
How much is saved by closing it down? Probably not as much as one of the radio stars gets in a year.
What is RTÉ up to? Not waving but drowning. – Yours, etc,
ADRIAN KENNY,
Portobello,
Dublin 8.