asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs if he is aware that outside a radius of approximately 50 miles broadcasting from the Dublin Station cannot be picked up by listeners, and if he is further aware that it is expected that residents and visitors will be anxious to take advantage of broadcasting from the Dublin Station during Eucharistic Congress Week, and if he can state when he hopes the new high-power station will be available, and if it will be functioning before June of next year.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Dublin Broadcasting Station.
It is probable that general conditions for reception of the Dublin Station's programmes in places outside a range of about 50 miles have disimproved of late owing to the lower power of the station as compared with the numerous British and foreign high power stations now in operation, and the overcrowding of broadcasting wave-lengths in Europe.
The Government has set up a special committee to deal with matters concerning the Eucharistic Congress and matters relating to broadcasting arrangements in connection with the Congress will, consequently, fall for consideration between that committee and the Department of Posts and Telegraphs.
Could the Parliamentary Secretary state whether the high-power station will be functioning at that time, whether the programmes are arranged or not?
The second part of the question seems to relate to the possibilities of broadcasting from the new station during the Eucharistic Congress. As I stated, the arrangements for broadcasting in connection with the Congress are to be considered by a special committee which has been set up to deal with it. I do not know if the Deputy has any authorisation to seek information on behalf of the special committee or anybody interested in it. If he has, I suggest that he put the question to the Committee.
The Parliamentary Secretary is evading a direct answer to the question. For a number of years, arising out of the Vote passed in the Dáil providing funds for the erection of a new high-power station, the public have been expecting month after month that this station would be erected to enable listeners outside a radius of fifty miles from Dublin to hear the broadcasting programme. Will the Parliamentary Secretary answer yes or no as to whether the new station will be in operation before June of next year?
May I ask the Parliamentary Secretary, arising out of his reply, what distinction he makes in his reference to British and foreign stations? Does he draw any particular distinction, and, if so, what?
The second question, I am sure, is not in order. With regard to Deputy Briscoe's supplementary question, clearly, the second part refers to the first. Whatever information the Deputy has in mind it is clear that what he wants is the position of the broadcasting undertaking and what position we will be in in regard to broadcasting when the Eucharistic Congress takes place. I have said that the arrangements in connection with broadcasting for the Eucharistic Congress are a matter for consideration by a special committee which has been set up to deal with all matters concerning the Congress.
Will the Parliamentary Secretary state how it will be possible, no matter what way the committee may arrange their programme, to enable listeners outside a radius of 50 miles from Dublin to hear when it is not possible to hear now? How can people outside a 50 miles radius hear a programme broadcasted from Dublin?
I heard Dublin 200 miles outside Dublin.
The Deputy is asking information about the broadcasting apart from the Eucharistic Congress, and I suggest that is a separate question and is not in order. If he is asking a general question with regard to the possibility of hearing, and when a high-power station is erected, I will answer him if he puts down a separate question. Clearly this deals with the possibility of broadcasting in connection with the Eucharistic Congress. The arrangements in connection with the broadcasting for the Eucharistic Congress are in the hands of a special committee, and they have not yet been settled.
Will the new high-power station be functioning next June?
That supplementary question is out of order.