RTÉ should make alliances with the com- munity broadcasting sector, according to Jack Byrne, co-founder of Dublin community radio station Near FM.

"We can be good allies. We're both not-for-profit," Byrne told an RTÉ Audience Council event attended by senior RTÉ management, including director- general Noel Curran, earlier this week.

There are now 25 community radio stations and two community television stations in Ireland, but resources remain the big challenge, said Byrne.

“One of the commercial moguls once described community radio – quite dismissively – as lost dog media. And that’s okay: you need to find lost dogs. We’re here for the lost voices as well.”

Byrne said he believed the campaigning edge evident in PBS chief executive Paula Kerger's presentation to the event – which included a video clip from PBS's series on the history of the American women's movement – was "missing" from Irish public service broadcasting.

“I think we need to remedy that,” he added.