The Irish advertising sector is still doing "very well", the chief executive of Scottish Radio Holdings (SRH) said yesterday after the company's annual general meeting.

Mr Richard Findlay said the media group wanted to continue to build its portfolio of Irish radio and newspaper businesses.

"There is scope in radio in the Republic with the new rules introduced by the broadcasting commission. And in the weekly press, I believe there is scope there too."

SRH owns Today FM and Downtown Radio, as well as a range of provincial newspaper titles both in the Republic and in Northern Ireland.

At the group's meeting in Scotland yesterday, its chairman, Lord Gordon of Strathblane, said it had had a good start to the current financial year, with revenues on continuing activities, including acquisitions, up more than 30 per cent in the first quarter (October to December).

The group is to announce its interim results on May 23rd.

Mr Findlay said Ireland was a very important area in the group's activities but Irish figures would not be separated from the group's overall performance at this stage in relation to the first quarter.

He said advertising in the Republic was doing very well.

Mr Findlay said the departure of Mr Eamon Dunphy from Today FM had not hit the station.