asked the Minister for Communications if he will approve immediately an application from RTE for the provision of a long wave radio station on a frequency allocated to Ireland in 1975.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Long Wave Radio Station.
3.
RTE are still considering the feasibility and viability of establishing a commercial radio service on long wave and their final detailed proposal is awaited.
Will the Minister state when the final report will be available? Does he not consider it serious that such a valuable national asset that has been available since 1975 is not being used?
There have been prolonged discussions between RTE and my Department on this matter. At the moment the ball is back in RTE's court and they are to come back with a feasibility study. RTE are not anxious to proceed with the proposal unless it is a commercial proposition and I wish to reiterate not only my support for but my insistence on that stance. I have told RTE that I favour the idea in principle of having a fourth national radio service on the long wave provided it is commercial. Far from discouraging them, I have been encouraging them to examine the proposal. It is now up to RTE to come back with the result of their study.
Is the Minister aware that the Director General of RTE made a statement yesterday indicating that it is proposed to be on the air within two years? Will he consider at this stage allocating the frequency to RTE to allow them to proceed with the planning of this service? It is a feasible project, it would create worthwhile employment and it would be in advance of satellite television broadcasting to give us the opportunity and outlet for our services. I wish to remind the Minister of the statement of the Director General in relation to their two-year development plan.
I think all sides of the House would welcome the idea of the development of the long wave service provided it is commercial and does not become a liability on the taxpayers, that it does not affect the existing services of RTE or their employees and also provided it can achieve the coverage intended, namely, the whole of the UK so that it may reach the Irish population there and many others also. It would be wrong for us to want to go ahead regardless of the economics of the proposition. It is vital that the economics be correct.
The Minister has not answered my question. I am asking him now to make a formal allocation of the frequency which was allocated to Ireland in 1975 so that RTE can proceed. The Department of Communications have far too much interference in the day-to-day management of RTE——
This is Question Time. The Deputy should not make a speech.
This is a clear indication of ministerial restrictions on RTE to prevent them expanding their services.
Even though the Deputy was in the Department for a few months obviously he has not a clue what day-to-day operations mean. I am obliged by international law to have responsibility for the frequency spectrum. I know Deputy Wilson knows that but apparently Deputy Leyden does not know it.
The Minister should not try to split the family. It will not work.
That responsibility has to be vested in the Minister. We have international obligations to ensure that the frequency spectrum is managed in a way that does not interfere with the frequency spectrums allocated to other countries. I will be delighted to allocate the frequency to RTE if they wish to go ahead and if they can show me that the service will be a commercial proposition.
I object to the Minister's approach. I am well aware of the regulations regarding this matter.
The Deputy must confine his interventions to a question.
The Minister is interfering with the development of RTE by not allocating this national asset. I am asking him to make this frequency available to RTE. We are ten years down the line and the present situation is an absolute disgrace.
I am calling Question No. 4.