asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs the number of complaints about interference received as a result of the operation of unlicenced radio stations; the date these complaints were first received; and by whom they were submitted.
Written Answers. - Unlicenced Radio Stations.
541.
Equipment was recently seized from three illegal broadcasting stations on foot of court warrants. The stations in question were operating in breach of the Wireless Telegraphy Act, 1926.
Pirate radio stations caused extensive interference to ambulance services in Dublin, Meath and Louth for a period last month. As a result the ambulance services were unable to send or receive any intelligible messages. This could have had the most serious consequences in any emergency. It was established that this interference was caused in large measure by Radio Nova/Kiss FM.
Twenty-two separate incidents of interference to radio frequencies at Dublin Airport were recorded during a recent period. This interference affected frequencies used by aircraft when taxiing and immediately after take-off and frequencies used by airport fire and emergency services and frequencies used by the Defence Forces. It was not possible to establish the source of the interference in every one of these cases but in any case where it was established it was found to be Radio Sunshine.
The potential consequences of interference to emergency services and aircraft movements cannot be overstated as they involve the safety of life. The interference to Garda and Army communications has serious implications for State security.
Radio and television reception in very many areas has also been affected by illegal broadcasting as has the normal usage of radio frequencies assigned to RTE. Harmful interference has been caused to authorised broadcasting stations in Britain which have been subject to considerable disruption due to the activities of Radio Nova in this country. This interference has been the subject of a formal complaint under the Radio Regulations of the International Telecommunications Union. Ireland is required under its international obligations to act on foot of the formal complaints which have been received.
The North Eastern Health Board have reported formally that the board's radio system for the accident and emergency ambulance service was rendered useless for a period of four days (from 16 to 19 April 1983) due to interference from an outside source. This was the case also with the Drogheda and Dundalk Fire Services and with the Meath Fire Service.
The interference was reported to the Department of Posts and Telegraphs on Tuesday, 19 April by the North Eastern Health Board. A similar complaint of severe interference to the Dublin City Ambulance Services was reported on the same day by the Eastern Health Board.
The Department of Posts and Telegraphs monitored the Fire and Ambulance bands (74.05-74.6125MHz) on receipt of the complaints and found interference typical of sideband splatter. Following further tests the emission was perceived to be a mixture of Radio Nova (on 88.19MHz) and KISS FM (102.7MHz).
There are now estimated to be over 50 illegal radio stations and this proliferation threatens chaos on the airwaves and potential hazards to safety.
Very clearly we cannot allow this situation to continue and, as I announced at the beginning of this year, it is my hope to bring to an end illegality in broadcasting this year.
I very much recognise the enjoyment a great number of people, and especially young people, derive from many of these stations. My aim is to phase out illegal stations as I phase in legal ones so that any interruptions to the enjoyment of listeners is kept to a minimum.
However, where serious complaints of interference arise it will be necessary to act against offending stations speedily.
At my request a Minister of State was specifically appointed to give all aspects of broadcasting the priority it had not got in recent years. As a result after only three months proposals for the development of legal local radio and other broadcasting matters are now before the Government and a decision is imminent. Legislation will be introduced as speedily as possible and I expect all stages will be passed within months.
Pending the enactment of the necessary legislation I am proposing to set up in the immediate future a local broadcasting committee to
(i) invite submissions from interested parties, especially youth organisations, on their concepts of local services;
(ii) to make such plans of administrative and technical nature as are possible
to facilitate the speediest possible introduction of legal local radio after the enactment of legislation.