Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 8 Dec 1977

Vol. 302 No. 7

Vote No. 44: Posts and Telegraphs (Resumed).

Debate resumed on the following motion:

That a supplementary sum not exceeding £6,100,000 be granted to defray the charge which will come in course of payment during the year ending on the 31st day of December, 1977, for salaries and expenses of the Office of the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs and of certain other services administered by the Office and for payment of certain grants-in-aid.

—(Minister for Posts and Telegraphs.)

Mr. O'Donnell

I have dealt with the aspect of this Supplementary Estimate which relates to the telephone services and I made a point about the problem we had in Limerick. Under subhead L.1 there is provision for an additional sum of £2.015 million to RTE. This occasion does not allow a comprehensive discussion on the broad and very often controversial field of broadcasting. In the short time at my disposal I should like to make a few brief comments.

Last Tuesday I tabled a parliamentary question which was answered by the Parliamentary Secretary in relation to the five-year plan of RTE. The Parliamentary Secretary said he did not regard it as a plan; it was merely a set of projections whose implementation would depend on the capital programme. I made the point that there is a vast difference between a set of projections and a development programme.

If RTE are to develop, if the proposed second channel is to develop along the proper lines, if we are to have the much sought-after extension of regional broadcasting and community radio and even the proper development of Radio na Gaeltachta, it is essential that RTE be able to operate under a broad outline development plan. For that reason it is essential that the Minister would give an indication as soon as possible of his thinking in relation to the areas I have mentioned and state what plans are envisaged and the financial provisions he proposes to make.

I should like to hear at a later stage the Minister's reaction to what I regard as an outline plan by RTE. If broad-casting is to develop logically there must be long-term and realistic planning.

Maidir leis an teanga Ghaeilge—agus tá a fhios agam go bhfuil suim mhór ag an Aire i ngluaiseacht na teangan— tá tábhacht faoi leith ag baint le radio agus telefís in a thaobh seo. Ba mhaith liom tagairt a dhéanamh do dhá phointe sa díospóireacht seo: ceann amháin, an tábhacht faoi leith a bhaineann le radio agus telefís ó thaobh na teanga de, 'sé sin, go bhfuil géar-ghá le h-aithbhreithniú a dhéanamh ar na cláracha a bheadh oiriúnach don suim atá anois i measc muintir na hÉireann chun an teanga a chur chun cinn. Tá ard-mholadh tuillte ag Liam Ó Murchú as ucht an chláir bhreá sin "Trom agus Eadrom", agus ba mhaith liom a rá maidir leis an chlár sin "Féach", nílim sásta go bhfuil sé ag forbairt ar an slí a bheadh oiriúnach chun an Ghaeilge a chur chun cinn. Tá scóip mhór ann chun leathnú a dhéanamh ar Radio na Gaeltachta agus chun an stáisiún a chur ar fáil sna ceantair nach féidir leis na daoine na cláracha a fháil ó Radio na Gaeltachta. Iarraim ar an Aire breithniú a dhéanamh ar an chás maidir le iarthar Mhaigh Eó.

I see, a Leas-Cheann Comhairle, that the translation facilities are not available, and I noticed particularly on a number of occasions when I have made contributions here in Irish since I came into the Opposition side, there seems to be no one in the simultaneous translation box.

An Leas-Cheann Comhairle

I do not think the Deputy need worry at this stage. I am sure all the Deputies present can understand the Deputy fully.

Mr. O'Donnell

Perhaps it is an oversight, but it was brought to my attention a number of times and I felt I should mention it.

An Leas-Cheann Comhairle

It will be mentioned.

Mr. O'Donnell

The final thing I want to know from the Minister is whether he intends at an early date to bring before the House legislation amending the Broadcasting Act. I understand it will be a matter of urgency to bring in amending legislation to enable RTE to increase their borrowing. This will be only a routine type of situation, but I would hope that the Bill the Minister will bring in will give the House the opportunity of a full-scale debate covering the whole field of broadcasting. I have no objection to giving the Minister the Supplementary Estimate he seeks.

Aire Poist agus Telegrafa (Mr. Faulkner)

Ba mhaith liom buíochas a ghabháil leis an Teachta O'Donnell as ucht an méid a bhí le rá aige ar an meastachán seo. Cé gur meastachán forlíontach é, ag an am chéanna tá sé tábhachtach mar tá airgead á chur ar fáil do ghnótha éagsúla atá tábhachtach sa mhéid go gcuirfidh siad obair ar fáil. Tá sé tábhachtach ar dhóigheanna eile fosta.

Labhair an Teachta O'Donnell faoin chaipitil don chóras teileafóin agus, mar a dúirt sé, bhí Bille os comhair na Dála ina thaobh sin, agus sílim go bhfuil sé soiléir go leor ón méid a bhí le rá agam ar an mBille sin go bhfuilimid go mór i bhfábhar forbairt an chórais theileafóin. Tá sé iontach tábhachtach ní amháin ó thaobh obair a chur ar fáil go díreach ach, chomh maith le sin, le hobair a chur ar fáil go hindíreach fosta.

I know there is no need for me to repeat what I said in Irish. In relation to the points made by Deputy O'Donnell regarding capital for telephone development, I know he is aware of the fact that we have had a Bill before the House in relation to the provision of capital. I assure him we are particularly anxious to proceed as rapidly as possible with telephone development. It is vitally important that we should for two reasons, first of all, that not only do we provide jobs directly through development of the telephone service but we also provide them indirectly, in the sense that a good telephone and telecommunications system is vital to industrial development.

The number of applications before the Department for telephones is exceptionally high. We would hope to clear a very considerable number of them within the next year but, as Deputy O'Donnell has already pointed out, as we clear them, more and more applications come to hand. It is a good sign to see the high level of applications. It would be a good sign in the future also to find the level increasing because it would denote economic recovery. On the other hand, applications alone are not sufficient; we have got to supply the demand, and this is what we are endeavouring to do.

The Deputy referred to the suggested transfer of the customs examination of parcels from Limerick and pointed out that he had been in touch with the Department in that regard. I might add also that the Minister for Industry, Commerce and Energy was also in touch with the Department on the matter. As I am sure the Deputy is aware, the problem related to having premises which were suitable and, more important still, accepted as suitable by the staff who have to work in them. I understand they are satisfied with the level of refurnishing of the temporary premises. It is hoped that this will permit the customs work to be moved there in time to meet the imminent Christmas pressure.

With regard to RTE and the set of projects presented, these were submitted before I assumed office. The position in relation to them is as stated in the reply to the question the Deputy raised on 6th December.

Ó thaobh na Gaeilge dhe tá a fhios agam go bhfuil an-dúil ag an Teachta sa teangain faoi mar atá agam féin agus ba mhaith liom pé cuidiú a thig liom a thabhairt ó thaobh forbairt na Gaeilge agus aontaím leis go bhfuil an-tábhacht ag baint leis an gcóras teilifíse chun cuidiú a thabhairt do fhorbairt na teangan. Ní raibh mé féin sásta leis an athrú a rinneadh ó thaobh am na nuachta agus gídh nach bhfuil de cheart agam iachall a chur ar Theilifís Éireann clár ar leith a chur ar fáil, ag an am chéanna chuir mé in iúl dóibh nach raibh mé sásta leis an athrú agus beidh mé ag cur ceist orthu anois le fáil amach goidé mar atá an nuacht ó shin ó thaobh TAM rating mar adéarfá go bhfeicimíd goidé an dóigh inar athruigh sé. Ach shíl mé féin gur ceann de na rudaí is tabhachtaí a bhí i gceist an dóigh ina raibh an nuacht i nGaeilge roimhe seo. Uimhir a haon, bhí sé lua go leor do dhaoine óga a bheith ag amhare air, agus uimhir a dó, bhí "News for the Deaf" ag teacht díreach ina dhiaidh. Ar an ábhar sin na daoine nár thuig i gceart an méid a bhí ar fáil as Gaeilge bhí siad ábalta é a thuigbheáil as Béarla ina dhiaidh, agus sílim gur chuidigh sé sin b'fhéidir le feabhas a chur ar Ghaeilge daoine nach raibh an Ghaeilge chomh maith acu agus ar mhaith leo a bheith. Aontaím leis fosta go bhfuil an clár "Trom and Eadrom" íontach maith sa dóigh go bhfuil furmhór mór muintir na hÉireann ábalta é a thuigbheáil. Tá sé dhátheangach agus tá sé curtha ar fáil sa dóigh go dtuigeann furmhór mór na ndaoine achan rud atá ar siúl ar an chlár.

Mar fhocal scoir, ba mhaith liom tagairt a dhéanamh fosta don méid adúirt an Teachta faoi dtaobh de Radio na Gaeltachta. Sílim go ndearna Radio na Gaeltachta obair fiúntach don Ghaeltacht. Thug sé seans do mhuintir na Gaeltachta ní hé amháin an nuacht ach ábhair eile a chlos ina dteanga dhúchais. Mhothaigh mé féin nuair a bhí mé sa Ghaeltacht sna blianta atá imithe thart gur chuidigh sé go mór leo go raibh cláracha ina dteanga féin ar fáil acu. Sílim do réir mar chonaic mé gur cuireadh an-suim ar fad ins an nuacht áitiúil ar an radio agus fuair mé amach go gcuireann siad suim ar leith i nuacht áitiúil. Smaoineoidh mé ar an méid adúirt an Teachta faoi dtaobh de Iarthar Mhaigh Eo go bhfeicfidh mé cad is féidir liom a dhéanamh sa chás sin.

Vote put and agreed to.