asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs if he is aware that residents in the Donabate and other areas of County Dublin suffer television interference by reason of the fact that suppressors are not fitted to all CIE and privately owned vehicles; if he will state the legal position in this matter; and whether he is satisfied that the legal requirements are fulfilled, particularly in respect of older types of machinery or earlier transport models.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - County Dublin TV Interference.
6.
I understand that CIE cooperates closely with the Broadcasting Authority in complying with the requirements of the interference regulations. Vehicles are suppressed as necessary in consultation with RTE, and recent checks made by RTE engineers have established that CIE vehicles are not a source of interference. As the Deputy is no doubt aware, the main source of television interference in road transport is the electric ignition system on petrol-engined vehicles. CIE buses and trucks are diesel-engined and do not cause serious interference.
Donabate and other areas of County Dublin enjoy virtually interference-free reception of RTE television and sound programmes but it is not possible to protect to a satisfactory degree the weak signals obtainable from outside stations.
Two sets of regulations govern the control of interference with reception of radio and television programmes. S.I. No. 108 of 1963 dated 6th June, 1963, deals with interference caused by small electric motors and S.I. No. 223 of 1963 dated 8th November, 1963, concerns interference caused by ignition apparatus. The emphasis is on the elimination of undue interference and as older types of machinery and earlier transport models become obsolete, replacements tend more and more to comply with the regulations.
Is the Parliamentary Secretary aware that, contrary to what he has said concerning the excellence of reception at Donabate and other County Dublin areas, it is a fact that reception is the subject of considerable complaint and that in the Donabate area, at least, it has been contended that much of it is due to the fact that the older type of CIE vehicles have not been properly suppressed as required by law? Will he have this matter examined again to ensure that everything possible is being done to secure satisfactory reception for the people in this and other areas? The people concerned are not satisfied that everything possible has been done, particularly as this concerns the older type of vehicles.
To suggest that this matter be reinvestigated in view of the inquiry that has taken place into it could not possibly promise to provide any improved solution. The position is that, certainly in regard to the Deputy's claim concerning older CIE vehicles, they do not interfere as it stands. In fact, the Deputy asked if I was aware that there was widespread complaint in the Donabate area. We have not had any widespread complaints from the Donabate area in connection with reception but we have had very many complaints from one person. I do not think that can be described as widespread.
The fact that people who are aggrieved do not write to the Minister does not necessarily mean that there are not widespread complaints, but if they write to me, I take it the Parliamentary Secretary would accept that there is a case for complaint. Surely it is a reasonable request that I am making that the matter should be looked at again. Are we not learning every day? Or perhaps I am misjudging the Parliamentary Secretary.
I agree that if a number of people write to any Deputy and he passes on those complaints, they are certainly regarded as complaints, but what I am restating is that there have not been in actual fact widespread complaints from the residents of Donabate or by any representatives on their behalf. We have not had complaints except from one individual but we can have the matter looked at again.
Many of them suffer in silence.