asked the Minister for Communications the present position regarding the establishment of the MMDS system; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
10.
Ceisteanna-Questions. Oral Answers. - Broadcasting Systems.
9.
asked the Minister for Communications if he is considering any alternative system to MMDS; if not, when he will issue licences; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
I propose to take Questions Nos. 9 and 10 together.
I am not considering any alternative system to MMDS. On receipt of the applications for MMDS I decided to seek the advice of outside consultants regarding the financial elements of the proposals to augment the general and technical evaluations being undertaken by my Department. These evaluations are now coming to hand and I hope to be in a position to announce decisions on the issue of licences very shortly.
My aim is to have licences issued as quickly as possible so as to facilitate the provision of national coverage in the shortest possible time frame.
What about Question No. 69?
At this stage we are taking Questions Nos. 9 and 10 together.
I take it that it is the Minister's intention to issue licences under the MMDS system. Is he aware of what are now likely to be very high costs to those people who will benefit from that system compared with the cost of cable and the likelihood that many people in rural areas will not be able to avail of the service other than RTE 1 and 2 channels?
The intention is that people in rural Ireland will have the same facilities as those fortunate enough to live in cabled areas. There should not be discrimination between rural and urban areas. The position in relation to cost is that it will be roughly the same as the average of the cabled system— approximately £100 for connection and approximately £100 annually for the licence fee.
I am surprised to hear that the prices appear to have dropped. Does the Minister not accept that the rural community already have in existence a system comparable to the cable one; that serious questions arise with regard to the MMDS system, an unproven system in the context of the format in which it is to be used in this country, indeed that serious health questions arise with regard to it? Furthermore, is the Minister aware that serious operational questions arise? Why is the Minister not considering any alternative system when the voice of consumers — about whom he appears to be so concerned — says that they do not want the MMDS system? Why is the Minister saying continuously that the opposite view is held when clearly it is not? What are the Minister's proposals with regard to satellite television bearing in mind the position of most people in rural areas who will consider purchasing a satellite dish which will cost them less than the MMDS system and afford them access to 30-odd channels rather than the few that will be available under the MMDS system? Has the Minister considered that aspect of the matter?
Can I dissuade Members from extending the scope of this question?
As far as consideration of the MMDS system is concerned, that is the system decided on by the Government. Indeed it was the system encouraged by my predecessor, Deputy J. Mitchell. With regard to the points raised by Deputy Cullen, there is an information booklet now available which I will arrange to have furnished to Deputies. I hope to have it available before the end of this week.
To all Deputies, I hope.
All Deputies. It will be available to the public generally and the information contained therein will answer many of the points raised by Deputies in relation to health and other matters. As far as the allegation that the system is unproven, it is in operation extensively throughout the United States, is very successful there, and we will be leading the way in Europe with it.
A Cheann Comhairle——
I am calling Deputy Richard Bruton and then Deputy O'Sullivan. If Deputies want to debate this issue they will have to find another occasion.
Is it not the case that the Minister is obliged to lay regulations before this House before he could license operators in the MMDS system? Is the Minister not ignoring the rights of this House in telling us that he will shortly announce decisions when he has not even produced regulations for our consideration?
The regulations are being finalised by the Attorney General at present and, yes, they will have to be signed.
Is it not wrong for the Minister to license operators when he has not received the approval of this House?
Can the Minister assure the House that the operation of this system will not pose a threat to health, which has been the case in other countries where it is in operation and where serious reservations have been expressed about the likely effects on the health of people in the immediate vicinity of some of these masts?
I am assured — and all of this information will be available in the booklet — in regard to the health aspect. I would remind Deputies that, as far as the MMDS system is concerned, it is already in use here by Telecom Éireann for the carriage of many of their lines in regard to the telephone service and there has been no question of a health hazard.
As I point out, Question No. 69 is relevant to this one.
If it were, Deputy, it would have been taken with it.
In replying the Minister referred to a pamphlet to be circulated to Members of this House by the end of this week——
Hopefully by the end of this week.
Much of that information was conveyed in the course of a television programme on Monday when it was indicated that this system would not be available until later this year; the autumn was referred to. What will happen between next autumn and the time up to which the Minister has allowed the existing supposedly illegal systems to operate? I think their operational period expires at the end of March; what will happen between then and the advent of the new MMDS system?
We shall have a further question on that later.
Does the Minister envisage any role for the operators of the existing deflectors, many of whom have gained valuable expertise over the years in which they have provided a service to the more remote parts of the country? Does he envisage any role for them under the new system?
I have met a number of them and their association, a sort of informal grouping. I have met them and talked with them. They were eligible to apply for the MMDS franchise, the same as anybody else, because it was a public advertisement. I believe some of them have submitted applications, or have been associated with other groups. I could envisage their expertise being used as subcontractors to some of the successful applicants for the MMDS franchises in particular areas. That expertise should not be lost and would be useful.
I have called Question No. 11.
A brief question——
Please, Deputy Cullen, Question No. 11 has been called. I would ask the Deputy, please, not to waste the precious time available for questions.
A Cheann Comhairle——
The Deputy will not intimidate the Chair.
I am not trying to intimidate the Chair.
I am calling Question No. 11.
On a point of order, a Cheann Comhairle——
What is the point of order?
The Minister is deliberately misleading the House when he said——
That is not a point of order and the Deputy knows that full well.
The Minister is deliberately misleading the House when he said that this system is in general operation in the United States——
The Deputy is making a statement. He must resume his seat.
——whereas it is not in operation in television systems in the United States and the Minister knows that.
The Deputy must not say that the Minister is deliberately misleading this House. That is tantamount to accusing the Minister of telling an untruth. He must withdraw that statement.
A Cheann Comhairle——
I must ask the Deputy——
I will withdraw the statement, a Cheann Comhairle, on the basis that the Minister will clarify——
That is sufficient, Deputy, without qualification.
A Cheann Comhairle——
Deputy Cullen, without qualification. Question No. 11, please.
The Minister needs to be reshuffled. He is adopting a narrowminded attitude.
I have been accused of many things but that is not one of them.
11.
asked the Minister for Communications when he will introduce his proposed amendment to the Broadcasting and Wireless Telegraphy Act, 1988, to suspend the operation of the new offences and penalties for a limited period, in relation to deflector systems; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
I am considering legislative proposals which, if enacted, would amend the Broadcasting and Wireless Telegraphy Act, 1988, to give me power for a limited period to suspend certain provisions of that Act as it relates to certain types of wireless telegraphy apparatus. The intention would be that the position that obtained prior to 31 December 1988 would apply on conviction for possession of such apparatus in contravention of the Act.
The drafting of these legislative proposals is complex. I am not in a position at this stage to say when they will be introduced but it will be as soon as possible.
For what period does the Minister intend introducing the suspensions?
Until the new system is allowed to operate in each individual area.
So there will not be a gap?
Mr. Burke
There will not be a gap.