asked the Minister for Communications if he has plans to introduce independent television in Ireland.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Independent Televisionl
5.
The potential for independent television is at present being examined in my Department.
Would the Minister say when he might be in a position to inform the House of his Departments' consideration of this matter? Would he agree that competition would be a good thing for RTE and the State in general?
The potential of independent television is at present being examined in my Department. I will be publishing the Radio Bill tomorrow. Having got that out of the way the Deputy can be assured that I will then be devoting my attention to the television area.
Would the Minister inform the House when he is likely to be in a position to tell the House of his conclusions on the matters at present being considered in his Department? Would he say whether the question of an Open University type service is being considered as part of the examination which the Minister says is at present taking place?
The latter has not been one of the items to be considered. I hope to be in a position within a couple of months to make an announcement on the decision.
Has the Minister considered the Broadcasting Commission Report of 1974 which indicated that it would be best that television and radio be regulated by the same authority if independent broadcasting was to develop, and would he give the House his comments on that report? Second, does the Minister feel that the present position under which RTE controls the company that distributes the television signal can continue in its present form if he does develop independent television?
There have been many changes in the whole area of broadcasting worldwide since the Report of the Broadcasting Commission was published in 1974. We are dealing with an entirely different situation. As far as the Deputy's query as to how an independent television channel would work and get its pictures to the homes of Ireland, I should say that that matter is being considered at present.
Does the Minister's consideration of the possibility of an independent television channel form part of his consideration of the direct broadcasting satellite project, or is it independent of that? Would he say also if his consideration excludes privatisation of any part of RTE, for example, RTE 2 Television?
Privatisation of RTE is not a matter for consideration. We have already said that that will not happen. As far as the consideration of the independent television channel is concerned, that is not linked to the satellite consideration.
Are the Minister and his Government in favour of independent television in principle? If he is, would he not agree that that constitutes another compelling reason for our having an independent broadcasting authority here?
The question of a decision on independent television is a matter for the Government to decide. The matter is being studied and I shall make a statement on it shortly.
Arising from the Minister's earlier reply that he is considering this matter independent of the direct broadcasting satellite service, does he foresee any possible role for independent television on the direct broadcasting satellite service should that project go ahead?
That appears to be a separate question altogether.
Would the Minister say — as part of this consideration — if his Department are considering the possibility of an independent television station being broadcast outside of the State, rather along the lines of the radio proposals which I understand RTE and Radio Luxembourg are at present considering? Is there any possibility that this independent station might broadcast outside the State at a profit?
I take it the Deputy is thinking of a sort of Television Tara as distinct from a Radio Tara. No, that is not what is in mind. As the Deputy will be aware, we are fortunate in having a certain position as regards satellites. Hopefully at some stage in the near future we will have the situation in which programmes are prepared in this country and a satellite system being used to send them not only to our neighbours but to other countries within Europe.