asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs if he will state whether or not he will recommend to the Government the introduction of sponsored television in the Republic of Ireland.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Sponsored Television.
I have submitted no television proposals to the Government as yet and I am not prepared at this stage to indicate the nature of any report or proposals I might make.
The question of whether I could recommend sponsored television to the Government depends on all the general conditions applying to television here, clearly set out in my recent Estimate statement, Volume 142, No. 11 of the Dáil Debates of November 10th last, columns 1771 and 1772.
Am I to take it thatthe Minister is going to stand in the way of private enterprise that might want to establish sponsored television before the impact of the Northern Ireland station is felt in the Republic?
I have not said anything of the kind.
Might I ask whether he is leaving this also completely in the hands of Mr. Gorham?
Further arising out of the Minister's reply, is not the Minister perfectly well aware that a considerable number of people interested in wireless and television are prepared to undertake the investment and expenditure of money to set up sponsored television in this country before the station very close to the Border comes into operation? Does the Minister not think it is in the interests of the development of television—if he is interested in the development of television at all in Ireland—that these people should be given some facilities?
There are a great many national considerations that would have to be considered before any view of that kind could be taken.
But the people who are anxious to do this are Irish nationals who want to compete in advance with the B.B.C.