asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs if he has had discussions with the RTE Authority with a view to clarifying the timetable for the introduction of a network of community based radio throughout the State and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Community Based Radio.
16.
The answer to the first part of the question is no. I have received from RTE, on a private and confidential basis, a document entitled "Nationwide Community Radio—Radio Pobal na Tire", in which RTE have outlined proposals to provide a community radio service throughout the country. However, a definite proposal has not been submitted by RTE to my Department for consideration.
In view of the Minister's reply to this question and to my Question No. 15, has he any proposal to meet in the near future the RTE Authority and that means in the next four to five weeks?
I have met all the State boards under the control of my Department.
Perhaps the Minister has misunderstood me, due to the communications in this room which might not be the best? May I ask again if the Minister has any proposals to meet the RTE Authority within the next four to five weeks?
I expect to, probably within the next four or five weeks.
When the dirty work is completed.
May I ask the Minister if the report to which he refers—regarding Radio Pobal na Tíre, if I am not mistaken—is not to be considered as a reasonably definitive proposal from the RTE Authority?
The answer is no.
May I further ask the Minister on what basis the report was submitted to his Department if it is not a reasonably definitive proposal?
This refers to Question No. 15 and we are on Question No. 16.
With respect to the Chair, the radio communications in this room are not the best either. I am, in fact asking a question arising out of a supplementary on Question No. 16 regarding community radio. For the benefit of the Chair, the Minister indicated that he had received a report entitled, if I heard him correctly——
Outline proposals, Deputy.
Outline proposals. Can the Minister indicate to the House on what basis he considers those outline proposals, and if his Department have responded to the RTE Authority concerning those proposals?
I am awaiting a definite proposal in my Department from the RTE Authority, as I said already in reply to the Deputy's question.
Finally, may I ask if the Minister or his Department have responded to the outline proposals at all?
My Department are considering these outline proposals, but the full detailed examination will be carried out when we get the detailed proposals from RTE.
Does the Minister not consider it difficult, if not impossible, for the RTE Authority to publish or submit final proposals, if outline proposals submitted to his Department have not yet got a response from the Department? Surely the idea behind submitting outline proposals is to give an indication of thinking and to get some feedback from the Department before going to the trouble and expense of producing final proposals?
I have answered that question. I told the Deputy that I had received outline proposals but that definite proposals had not been submitted to my Department. We shall be considering all the proposals when we get them.
To keep the records quite clear, the Minister has been appointed since the beginning of the year, has not yet met the Authority and has not yet responded to any of their proposals?
That is a separate question. That is not a question for the Minister.
That is what Deputy Quinn says. That is not what I say.
The Minister, in reply to the first question, says that he has had no discussions with the RTE Authority. Has he had discussions with any individual members of the Authority which may have influenced recent decisions taken by the Authority?
Surely, that is a separate question?
That question does not need an answer from me, in view of the first answer I gave today.
The Minister has not met anybody?