asked the Minister for Communications the progress he has made in his discussions with Cablelink Limited with a view to the introduction of the broadcast of foreign language programming for some hours on their networks; and whether in light of the progress made to date in these discussions, he will use his "must carry" powers to require some hours of foreign language broadcasting on the network.
Written Answers. - Foreign Language Broadcasting.
95.
As I have said before in replies to similar questions, I would like to see foreign language services on Cablelink. However, it is a matter for the company to decide the foreign services it wishes to relay.
The problem is that the number of services available exceeds the capacity of the system. In the light of this I understand that Cablelink are examining the feasibility of "time-shifting" a selection of such services — i.e. to record them "off-air" and relay them outside broadcasting hours on another channel.
All cable operators are statutorily obliged to relay the television services of RTE and it is my intention to extend this obligation to the independent television channel. I do not consider that it would be appropriate for me to oblige cable operators to carry one particular foreign service rather than another.