asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs whether the wave length of the Dublin Broadcasting Station was fixed by the International Radio Bureau at Geneva, and whether any representations were made to that Bureau in order to avoid the danger of clashing with Hamburg and Bournemouth.
CEISTEANNA—QUESTIONS. ORAL ANSWERS. - DUBLIN STATION'S WAVE LENGTH.
Presumably the Deputy's question refers to the Union Internationale de Radiophonie, a voluntary Association of European Broadcasting enterprises, having, so far as I am aware, no plenary powers. The Irish Free State broadcasting service is not at present a member of the Association.
The allocation of wave-lengths to radio stations is a matter for the Governments of the various countries, and unless the Governments concerned agree to enforce proposals that may reach them from the Union Internationale, difficulties are likely to arise in carrying out any changes the Union may consider advisable.
The wave-length of the Dublin Broadcasting Station, which was settled by this Administration in conjunction with the British Administration, does not clash with Bournemouth's wave-length. It will be realised that if Bournemouth caused serious trouble to Dublin listeners, then equally Dublin signals, which are quite strong over the south of England, would cause serious trouble to Bournemouth listeners. Such trouble does not exist.
As to Hamburg, I cannot speak with authority. I understand its wave-length is 392 metres, but I have no official information on the point. We have received reports from different parts of Ireland that no difficulty has been experienced in tuning in Dublin free from Hamburg's signals.