Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 2 Dec 1971

Vol. 257 No. 6

Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Southern Multi-Channel Television.

150. Mr. L. Burke asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs if he is aware of a report (details supplied) that to date 10,000 people have signed petitions in support of a campaign to bring multi-channel television to the south; and what steps he intends to take to ensure that these people, as taxpayers and ratepayers, are given the same facilities as those enjoyed by Dublin people.

Mr. G. Collins

I am aware of the report mentioned by the Deputy. External signals are receivable "off the air" in certain areas of the State as a result of the fortuitous overspill of signals from externally situated transmitters. I do not consider that the fortuitous advantage thus avaliable to people living in those areas creates any obligation to have the same advantage made available elsewhere.

In replying to the debate on the Estimate for my Department on 25th November last, Vol. 257, No. 3, cols. 433 and 434, I described the question of making these signals available throughout the State as a major matter of policy and said that I was reluctant to express views on such matters which might well be under review by the Broadcasting Review Committee. I also said that, apart from the other considerations which arose, the cost alone, running to millions of pounds, would be such as to rule out such a proposal at present. I have no present intention of taking any steps in the matter.

Mr. L. Burke

Surely the Minister cannot ignore the cast-iron case for multi-TV for Cork put forward so emphatically by the people? Is he going to ignore the rightful demands of such a large and representative section of the community?

Mr. G. Collins

I am well aware of a demand for television stations other than RTE, and in my answer to his question which I have read, I think I covered the position reasonably well. I understand that some of the people making this demand have been advised to get in touch with the Broadcasting Review Committee and put their views to them. I am not in a position to make any comment on it until such time as I hear from that committee. That is on the question of policy only. There is the question of the financing of this operation which would run to millions of pounds and that is something else that I should have to worry about.

Mr. Murphy

Surely the Minister will accept that there is no justification for the position obtaining at present where in the northern half of the country, there are at least three stations, while in the southern half there is only RTE, and will he not accept that in most areas, or in many areas, in south-west Cork, the reception is exceptionally bad and that despite repeated representations, improvements are not carried out? Surely there is an unanswerable case for at least an additional channel in the southern part of the country? It is not a matter for private enterprise; it is a matter for the State. I should like to have an answer to that question because I have another question to ask.

An Leas-Cheann Comhairle

The Deputy is now putting an argument.

Mr. L. Burke

Will the Minister agree that the people of Cork who pay the same licence fee as the people of Dublin have a just right to the same facilities and that the extension of multi-channel TV to Cork would not, in fact, cost the Government anything because a private company Albon Cable Vision Ltd. are prepared to finance this service and surely the people of Cork are entitled to it?

Mr. G. Collins

On the first part of that supplementary question, the amount of the licence fee, I should like to explain to the Deputy that the fee is concerned only with the possession of television apparatus and the fortuitous reception of external programmes in certain areas has no bearing at all on the matter and there is no element in the fee for the availability of external programmes. With regard to the Deputy's suggestion that it would not cost the Government anything to get external signals down to the south-west part of the country, this is not at all so. It would cost millions of pounds.

Mr. L. Burke

Cable Vision Limited have said that it will not cost the Government any money. They are prepared to give the service.

An Leas-Cheann Comhairle

We are entering into a debate on questions.

Mr. O'Sullivan

In view of the Minister's answer, I wonder will he consider reducing the cost of the television licence in all areas, outside the Pale, where they are getting less television?

Mr. G. Collins

I do not think that the Deputy's suggestion would be welcomed by the RTE Authority.

Mr. Murphy

We must try to dig out information in the House here from the man who is supposed to have it and I want to know if the assertion made down in the southern part of Ireland is true, that RTE is against an additional channel in case it would take away advertising revenue.

An Leas-Cheann Comhairle

That would be a separate question.

Mr. Murphy

Deputy Tully tells me that in his home area there are four channels and he pays only £7.50 as I pay for one.

An Leas-Cheann Comhairle

We cannot have a debate on questions.

Mr. Murphy

Is it true that RTE are against this proposal because of advertising revenue?

Mr. G. Collins

I could not answer the question with a straight "Yes" or "No". Certainly if we had another commercial television station in the country, it would do quite a lot of harm to RTE.

Mr. Murphy

That is the reason we are as we are.

Mr. G. Collins

That is not so.

Mr. Murphy

We have no alternative—the advertising revenue has to be saved. It is no wonder that there are TV spongers. There is justification for some sponging as far as the services we get are concerned.

Mr. G. Collins

The Deputy was not here for the debate on my Estimate. If he had been, he would have heard of the efforts which are being made to improve the service in Cork.

Mr. Murphy

These improvements have been promised down the years and we are now told that Rosscarbery is getting a booster after seven or eight years.