Dublin South-Central): I thank all those Deputies who have contributed to this debate. A number of Deputies raised points in relation to programmes and to the day-to-day administration of RTE, but this is an area in which the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs has no statutory function. I assure the Deputies, though, that any comments made here will be read by the Authority and taken into consideration. This has been the practice in the past. Naturally, I have my own views in regard to programmes and I made these views known while I was in opposition. It is only right that Deputies would express their opinions on the type of radio and television programmes they would favour because these media are important factors in regard to the moulding of attitudes in our society.
Before dealing with other matters raised by the various speakers during the debate, I should like to put on record my own appreciation of the manner in which RTE covered so effectively the recent visit to Ireland of Pope John Paul II. Undoubtedly, the outside broadcast operation on that occasion was the largest undertaking ever attempted by RTE and they carried it off without a hitch at very short notice. They have brought international credit and admiration not only to the Irish broadcasting service but to the nation as a whole. I am sure that everybody here will join with me in congratulating all concerned in RTE for the success of that operation.
I am surprised that section 3 of the Bill has given rise to so many difficulties. The range of sinister interpretations that have been put on the section has been unbelievable. I wish to assure Deputies that there is nothing sinister about section 3. The amendment has no relevance to the question of establishing an independent local authority. As I said in my opening speech, this amendment is purely for clarification of the existing situation regarding RTE. The position is that recently the Attorney General had some doubt as to whether RTE had statutory power under existing legislation to provide some of the local services which they are at present providing—for example, Cork local radio and community radio services in various towns. He advised us that the opportunity should be taken at the earliest possible moment to remove any doubt on the matter.
Deputies have offered various interpretations of section 3, but with regard to the possibility of RTE being given approval to establish additional local radio services before the legislation providing for the establishment of the independent local radio authority is enacted, I can inform Deputies that the Government have not taken any decision on proposals submitted by RTE in 1978 for local radio services in Dublin, Cork and Shannonside. The Authority were informed that the Government's decision to set up an independent local radio authority would not necessarily preclude them from further involvement in local broadcasting and that if they wished to put forward fresh proposals after the new independent local radio authority had been set up, the matter could be reconsidered in the light of the circumstances existing then. Of course, RTE would require the Minister's approval before establishing any new local radio service. There are not any fresh proposals from RTE with my Department.
As I said in reply to a parliamentary question from Deputy O'Connell on 31 October last, the drafting of the necessary Bill to provide for the establishment of the new Authority is at an advanced stage. I expect that it will be ready for introduction shortly after Christmas. Section 3 is purely for the purpose of clarifying the position. It does not in any way strengthen the monopoly of RTE.
This sudden concern on the part of the Opposition Deputies to ensure that RTE do not secure a monopoly in the area of local radio is difficult to understand. I should like to draw the attention of Deputies to the speech of the former Minister for Posts and Telegraphs, Dr. Cruise-O'Brien, on the Estimate for the Department on 10 May 1973. He drew particular attention to the part of the joint Statement of Intent of the Coalition Parties which read as follows:
The review of the television service and broadcasting services will be speeded up and a special examination made as a matter of urgency of such matters as a second television channel, local radio and the provision of piped television and the relationship of the RTE Authority with the Government.
He went on to say:
It is a matter of principle with this Government to keep the promises in the joint Statement of Intent and the implementation of this particular promise falls on me.
On 27 June 1974 in the course of his reply on the Estimate debate for 1974, Dr. Cruise-O'Brien said:
A fully equipped mobile radio studio will be brought into operation shortly and will be available for programme origination from provincial centres. The first steps in local broadcasting have already been taken with the experimental programming from the Cork medium frequency transmitter.
A new development is that a daily half-hour programme from Monday to Friday is being provided for a period of two months from 24 June. This service has the benefit of guidance and advice from the newly established Cork Radio Advisory Committee. The Cork experiment in the next few months will be important in indicating the possibility of development of other such services. If the result of the Cork experiment are encouraging, I hope to see it developed in other areas. We will be watching the experiment with great interest.
Deputies will note that there is no mention of any possibility of a body other than RTE developing these services. Section 3 of this Bill ensures that RTE's local radio services are properly constituted. The Coalition Government did not give a promise that they would establish an independent radio authority which we are doing now. We have taken a positive step forward. I was surprised to hear criticism of my Department and the Minister from the Fine Gael benches. They said we were giving a stronger monopoly to RTE, but that is not true.
