Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 29 May 1990

Vol. 399 No. 3

Private Members' Business. - Review of Broadcasting: Motion.

Mr. J. Mitchell

I move:

That Dáil Éireann, concerned at the failure of the Government's policy in several areas of broadcasting, calls on the Government to appoint, without delay, an independent review body comprised of competent and representative personnel to report to the Oireachtas within six months on the future and quality of broadcasting including:

(1) The future funding of RTE and alternative national, local and community radio and television services and the effects on the print media.

(2) Questions of copyright, performing right, consumer rights, balance, public order and public morality in an era of increased trans-national broadcasting and advertising.

(3) The likely impact of foreign based broadcasting and advertising (including direct and indirect satellite services) on the home market in terms of viability, quality and standards; and how to maintain and monitor quality and standards in this era.

(4) To report on current concerns relating to alternative national radio and TV, including Irish language services;

and to take all reasonable steps to maintain present services pending the report.

This debate is taking place at a critical time in the affairs of radio and television broadcasting. It is taking place at a time when the national radio alternative to RTE — Century Radio — has well advertised and imminent difficulties. While this very immediate issue gives great urgency to this debate, it is not the sole reason for it or even the central one.

There has been no independent and comprehensive review of broadcasting since 1974. Since then there has been a veritable revolution in broadcasting and communications technology which puts into an international context many issues which, heretofore, could be judged solely by national criteria.

However, for radio and for television, there are very distinct issues and challenges but there are also common issues and the most vital of these is the question of funding. As a significant part of present and future funding depends on advertising, it is clear that the position of the newspapers and the rest of the print media, who also depend on advertising, has to be considered simultaneously. However, what must not happen is for the vital issue of funding to be a rushed and ill-considered job which ends up missing most of its targets and, in the process, does a great deal of damage. This is clearly a danger from the approach of the present Minister who does not appear to know the difference between burlesque and ballet.

Let me recall that the idea of a national radio alternative and a national television alternative was the Minister's own brainchild. He overruled the advice of his Department and that contained in the Touche Ross report commissioned with my consent by the Interim Local Radio Commission which I appointed when Minister.

Having acted against all that advice, the Minister then insisted on imposing heavy handed requirements on alternative national and local radio to a commission whose remit has a heavy touch in practice when a light touch would be more appropriate. These are the factors that are causing difficulties for Century Radio and for many of our local stations.

If the Minister is contemplating compounding that error by making RTE pay, and by penalising RTE for its major financial success over the past five years, he will be utterly opposed by this side of the House.

It will be recalled that, when I revealed in a speech in Cork on 12 February last that the Minister was planning to divert income from RTE to independent radio, a one line statement was issued on the same day on behalf of the Minister denying my revelation. He refused to give any press, radio or television interviews. It will be further recalled on 27 February when at Communications Question Time he again gave misleading information to the House. By saying so at that time I was wrongly asked to leave the House. Then in the last week of March in Cork the Minister revealed the full accuracy of my assertions when he announced he was going to "level the playing pitch". Again he refused to be interviewed on radio or television.

I challenge the Minister tonight to stop hunking and sliding, to stop this slippery approach, to stop running hither and thither, and to come into this House and tell the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth about his intentions.

What does he mean by "levelling the playing pitch" and why did he deny his intentions not once but twice? Who is it he hopes to penalise and who is it he hopes to benefit by his proposals? Almost four months have elapsed since I first revealed his intentions. Yet even now with a crisis imminent he has not revealed his hand. I hope by this motion tonight we have forced the Minister's hand and that he will make some announcement tonight.

Having criticised the Minister I wish now to offer him some advice. I ask him to recognise that any attempt to divert income from RTE to the rest of the media in the Republic could end up penalising RTE and benefiting only TV stations based in Belfast or London. This likelihood becomes greater as the MMDS spreads and as the penetration of the Republic by Northern and satellite stations spreads with it. To say this is not to cosset RTE nor is it to deny that a serious funding issue exists which impinges both on alternative national and local radio, TV and newspapers. Quite the contrary, part of RTE's success and their improvements in recent years have been brought about by the presence or promise of competition.

Century Radio are its only national radio competition. It would be a disaster for Century and bad for RTE if Century were allowed to collapse. Clearly Century need changes but, in this their hour of acute difficulties, we in this House should recognise the quality and contribution made this past nine months by their frontline and background staff alike. Some of the changes necessary are internal to Century, and indeed some have already been made, but many of the changes needed are legislative and administrative if alternative national and local radio is to survive.

These changes need to be thoroughly and independently considered by an independent review body and this will take some months. The Minister should announce such a body tonight. However, clearly some immediate action is required to preserve alternative national radio pending the study.

Two things need to be done immediately. Confidence needs to be given to the market by: (1) A declaration by the Government that they are fully committed to maintaining an alternative national radio station in being as a permanent and continuous feature of our broadcasting arrangements. (2) The Government to take power by legislation during this session to temporarily borrow from the proceeds of licence fees up to 5 per cent of the annual total of £45 million, that is £2.25 million, and this to be made available, free of interest, to alternative radio to ensure none collapse during the rest of this year, and pending the report.

This temporary loan is justified by the fact that the Government, in their haste, have made mistakes and imposed excessive requirements on independent radio. These mistakes can be rectified but they can also be compounded. I stress, therefore, that this loan can only be a once-off payment to help get over teething problems some of which were of the Government's making. It is purely a temporary expedient pending the report of the review body that I propose. However, if the Minister proposes more fundamental changes in haste without such a review, the chances are that he will compound his earlier errors and will be throwing good money after bad.

The suggestions that either or both Radio 2 or Network 2 TV should be separated from RTE or in some other way be restricted are misguided and totally unacceptable. They can only be motivated by malice towards RTE. For the Minister to embark along this route would be detrimental, and could even be disastrous for RTE. These are considerations which must be objectively and thoroughly considered and it cannot be a matter of ministerial whim.

There are other options for long-term funding and for future organisation of broadcasting which require independent analysis. There is the question of the 10 per cent VAT on advertising in the Republic for newspaper, radio and TV advertising. In other administrations it is zero. As Minister, I persuaded our Government to reduce it to 10 per cent some years ago. Perhaps a further concession would now be timely.

Given the requirement, and it is a requiement, for a network of independent radio stations both national and local as an alternative to RTE, should the introduction of a radio licence be considered in order to fund the public service element of independent radio? A £1 licence per annum would yield over £2.5 million.

There is also the question of extending the reception area of Irish radio and TV into other territories especially into Northern Ireland and into Britain. This is an area where we have not received the co-operation of the UK authorities in the past but which needs much greater emphasis now because, under draft rules from the Council of Europe which the UK supports, cross-Border broadcasting and, as important, cross-Border advertising will be uninhibited.

Let me say in that respect that during the negotiation of the Anglo-Irish Agreement, as the then Minister for Communications I raised this as an issue for discussion in the negotiations for that agreement. Unfortunately, the British side utterly resisted the idea of the penetration or coverage of the whole of Northern Ireland by RTE and other broadcasting media based in the Republic. That was the case then but it cannot be the case now as the British authorities have spelled out in their own White Paper that they are totally against the restriction of cross-Border broadcasting and advertising in the context of the draft directive from the European Commission and of the paper from the Council of Europe. Therefore, now is the time, when the Anglo-Irish Agreement is under review and when things appear to be happening in Northern Ireland, for us to put it to the British again that if they mean what they say in their own White Paper they should start by allowing RTE, Century Radio and other broadcasting media based in this State to have full coverage in Northern Ireland.

These are some of the matters which need to be considered, and the case for a review body is now a strong one. It will allow all the interest groups to present their case and challenge other cases. Unquestionably, this is an area where there are conflicting interests. There are conflicting claims and counter claims. There are assertions by one side about another and vice versa. There are people protecting their own interests, people making plaintive pleas and others making excessive demands. We need all these arguments to be weighed up carefully. Some of them interact with one another. Some of them contradict one another, but these are things that need to be assessed independently and comprehensively. This will give time for calm analysis and research and will provide a good basis for long-term decisions.

In the UK the White Paper to which I have already referred was published in November 1988 and is entitled Broadcasting in the 90s: Competition, Choice and Quality. It followed several reports, and I will name some of them: The Peacock Report a 1986 report on the financing of the BBC; The Future of Broadcasting published in 1988 as a report of the Home Affairs Committee of the Commons; the subscription television report of 1987 done on behalf of the British Government by Communications Studies and Planning International Limited; a White Paper in 1983, The Development of Cable Systems and Services; a Government commission and study of MMDS in Britain by Touche Ross Management Company; a Green Paper entitled Radio: Choices and Opportunities published in 1987; and in 1988, here was another report of the Home Affairs Committee of the Commons on the Government's plans for radio broadcasting.

It is on the basis of such thorough analysis and debate that the UK decides its broadcasting policy. It involves prior advice, examination and comments of both Houses of Parliament and the views and contributions of all interest groups together with professional and independent analysis before legislation was introduced.

In the Republic we can undoubtedly learn to some extent from the UK reports but we have our own distinct issues, opportunities and limitations. These require debate and independent analysis before the fundamental decisions for the future are made. I hope the Minister can accept the case for an independent review body tonight and announce their composition speedily.

This week the Minister must also appoint a new RTE Authority. I do not say that they should include only people of no known political persuasion — that would be absurd — but they should be composed of a team of competent and suitable people who, when necessary, will stand up to the Minister. They should be a politically balanced Authority if they are to fulfil their role properly. They should not be like a Fianna Fáil cumann, as in the past, dedicated, in breach of the law, more to the interest of the party than the Authority.

The retiring Authority were independent, competent and balanced. They have led RTE to major reorganisation and expansion and to financial soundness. We thank them as they retire, as we ought to thank all those who work in RTE who have brought about this result. It would be poor recompense for them if their very success is now rewarded by being plundered by a Minister motivated either by haste or by hate or both.

The issue before us is an important one. If the proposal is accepted it could have a very important influence well into the next century. Haste is to be avoided.

Let me say something about the Minister's style. He is a man who likes to get things done and for that we must admire him. I concede that he took in hand the whole broadcasting mess when he became Minister a few years ago. He spoke in 1987 about the prevarication of the previous ten years. I was determined not to proceed along the lines I was being pushed because I believed they were ill-judged and would not have stood the test of time. The Minister embraced the idea of a new independent radio station and an independent television station. Neither of these proposals was well-researched or well-founded.

Following the experience of the past year or so we realise that some mistakes were made. The Minister should be big enough to take on board this fact and he and the House should learn from those mistakes. I hope the product of this debate will be that we learn from those mistakes and that we lay a lasting foundation for a vibrant, successful, high quality broadcasting system on radio and television which will have the support of a wide viewership and listenership throughout the Republic and further afield.

Minister for Communications (Mr. Burke)

I must admit I am amazed at Fine Gael's bringing forward this motion at this time. After five years of total inactivity while in Government the Members opposite have suddenly woken up. They have now finally found something to complain about in all the constructive activity and progress on the broadcasting front brought about since Fianna Fáil came back into office. For five years the combined Opposition parties, when in Government, presided over the most appalling mess in the broadcasting sphere without a mention of a review body that might have helped to point a way out of the morass. Sixty or 70 illegal broadcasting stations were operating without hindrance. They did manage to bring a Bill before the House but that was quickly forgotten about as the parties embarked on an ideological dog fight, about the future direction of broadcasting, which they were unable to resolve.

I ask the House to picture the scene which faced the Fianna Fáil Government when it came into office: total deadlock and disagreement on the terms of legislation required to license legal radio services; a deeply entrenched pirate broadcasting scene which flouted the law with impunity; and major changes were already taking place in the international broadcasting scene which would inevitably impact on Ireland.

That then is the legacy on broadcasting which I inherited from Deputy Mitchell on taking office as Minister for Communications. I would earnestly ask this House to weigh that legacy of inactivity and lawlessness on the airwaves against the substantial achievements during my period of office as Minister for Communications. I will outline those achievements briefly as follows: legislative proposals for the licensing of independent broadcasting services were brought before this House and were enacted; and long-standing legislative proposals for outlawing pirate broadcasting were brought before this House and were enacted; the Independent Radio and Television Commission was set up and started working immediately; pirate broadcasting was effectively ended; legal national and local radio services were introduced, which services now employ approximately 600 people; the first steps were taken towards providing multiple choice in television in areas not covered by cable systems; and a third television channel was franchised and it is due to commence next year.

I can say without fear of contradiction that more has been achieved in broadcasting in Ireland in the past three years than in the previous 20 years. A review group was not needed to point out the mess broadcasting was in in this country just a short few years ago. It was there for all to see, holding us up to scorn and ridicule both at home and abroad. Unfettered by ideological hang-ups, the Fianna Fáil Government of 1987 like the present Government reached for the core of the problem and took quick and effective action.

Government policy is designed to ensure that Irish broadcasting becomes a growth industry in line with the growth of broadcasting seen in all other European countries. Government policy is designed to ensure that Irish broadcasting remains the mainstream Irish viewers' and listeners' choice.

The growth of broadcasting as a sector in Europe is driven by technology and de-regulation. Technology has created new means of distribution, and de-regulation has created the environment by which new services are phased into the marketplace. The EC policies in relation to broadcasting project major growth in European broadcasting as a result of these factors in the nineties. Expansion and growth of European media is a major element in EC planning for the nineties.

My primary objective was to put in place the necessary regulatory framework which would allow the Irish public to create their own multiplicity of choice in broadcasting. I was very much aware that, with the pace of developments in international broadcasting, this was the last significant opportunity an Irish Minister would get to influence in a major way the development of a strong and vibrant Irish broadcasting industry. Of equal importance was the need to put in place additional sources of news, information and current affairs. Given the dominance of broadcasting in informing the public, it was central to Government policy to provide the general public with alternative sources of broadcast news and current affairs.

Other important elements making up Government policy include the creation of permanent secure employment and providing a seedbed for the growth of an independent audio-visual industrial business in this country.

I believe that we had the talent and the skills to create a major audio-visual industry in Ireland. What was missing was the home market on which to start the development process.

A final and I believe vital part of the Government's thinking was the determination that there should be the lightest possible regulatory regime to oversee the new services.

The Government's measures in relation to broadcasting are in line with the European trend and in advance of many European countries. The era of national state monopolies is ending in all countries. Broadcasting monopolies have not within them the dynamic for growth. The demand for growth has come from the consumer. The transition from State monopolies to a competitive environment in broadcasting is in response to this demand. It is Government policy to carry out this transition in a planned manner so as to ensure that the totality of Irish broadcasting is strengthened by the introduction of competition and choice.

The effect of introducing competition in a domestic context will be to create a stronger Irish broadcasting sector. Government policy achieves: new investment into broadcasting; higher productivity; more choice for the viewer and listener; more employment; and growth in the sector.

A retrospective look at radio in Ireland illustrates the point. In the early seventies Ireland had a single national radio service. Pirate radio illustrated the consumer demand for more choice. 2FM was launched in response to this demand, although the continued existence of the pirates through the early and mid-eighties demonstrated that it failed to meet the public demand for an alternative source of broadcasting service. Today the pirate era is over and the legacy is a radio industry that has grown immeasurably since the days of single channel radio. The listener has more choice and the industry has growth.

It is inevitable that, in the context of television, the ending of a 25-year monopoly will cause short term difficulties for the State broadcaster.

In the long term, however, the benefits are very real for RTE. The real threat to Irish broadcasting is from overseas television services. Domestic competition increases the total output of Irish broadcasting which is the strongest defence against overseas competition. Competition also improves the quality of broadcasting as has already been witnessed recently in RTE's schedules.

Increasing the volume and quality of Irish broadcasting is the only long term answer to overseas competition. It is the Government's view that the combination of increased productivity through improved work practices and new technology, together with increased resources arising from more total air-time being made available to the advertiser, will be the direct result of the introduction of competition.

Government policy has recognised the reality of major competition to Irish broadcasting looming on the horizon in the form of increased UK and satellite services. Seen in this light the ending of the State monopoly is viewed not as a choice but the only effective way to ensure the long-term viability and growth of Irish broadcasting.

The Government's decisive action and clear policy objectives have transformed the scene in a very short time. Following the establishment of the Independent Radio and Television Commission things began to fall into place very quickly. Already we have seen a national radio service and 18 local radio services start broadcasting with three more due to start shortly. The emergence of a strong local sector in such a short time has been a revelation. I understand from the commission that a survey undertaken on local stations has revealed that the great majority of them are matching and even exceeding projected advertising revenue. Projected advertising revenue this year to independent stations is estimated to be of the order of £8-£9 million, which is well up to expectations.

Employment creation arising out of all this activity has also proved very satisfactory with in excess of 600 people now directly employed in the sector. I might add that more than half of those jobs are in a permanent capacity.

Of course, as was made clear by Deputy Mitchell, it has not all been plain sailing and indeed, as I recall forecasting in the debate on the 1988 legislation, there are difficulties to be overcome, but the difficulties in this sphere are not confined solely to the independent sector. To illustrate the point, I would point to the fact that RTE, with all their broadcasting experience, are having their own particular problems with their Atlantic 252 service. I note that the service is running at a deficit of over £1 million and in his outgoing report the Chairman of the RTE Authority stated that this service would not break even until at least 1991. Because of their size and resources, RTE are able to support this service through a longer than anticipated development phase. Against this background some of the judgments on the independent broadcasting sector appear to be somewhat harsh and premature.

While revenue in the independent broadcasting sector has been up to expectations, the fact of the matter is that the public service obligations we, as legislators, imposed on the independent sector under the Radio and Television Act, 1988, have had a particular impact on costs. In this regard it has left the independent service at a major competitive disadvantage with RTE who are in receipt of broadcasting licence fees as well as advertising and other commercial promotion revenue.

The 20 per cent news and current affairs is just one example of the public service obligations we imposed on the independent sector — an obligation I might add which does not apply to RTE's 2FM which is the main competing service. I believe it was right and appropriate to insert such a requirement because it was the shared view of this House that we wanted something more than wall-to-wall popular music on the new services. There was a clear wish that they should contribute to plurality and choice in the sources of news and information available to the public, which is a critical element in any democratic society. Experience has clearly shown that meeting such an obligation does not come cheaply, particularly if it is to be done in a professional and competent manner. While revenue has been in general higher than projected, the costs of the public service obligations have been far higher than anticipated.

Deputy Mitchell referred to some points he had made in January and February. I want to emphasise that the proposals, combined with the way they have now crystalised, were put forward only after indepth consideration in recent weeks. This is evidence that the accusations made against me some time ago by Deputy Mitchell to the effect that I misled the House in relation to proposals——

Mr. J. Mitchell

You did.

Mr. Burke

He alleged that the proposals I developed to divert revenue from RTE were false.

Mr. J. Mitchell

The Minister is proving this tonight.

Mr. Burke

No such proposals had been developed or formulated at the time Deputy Mitchell made his accusation. Indeed, in so far as I began to develop ideas on the issue after that time, initially they went in a different direction to the ones I have brought forward tonight. I make this point not with any wish to bring rancour into this debate tonight but only to reflect on the seriousness with which I view his accusation, which, of course, is one of the most serious accusations which can be levelled against a Minister.

The Government have, therefore, decided that some adjustments need to be made with respect to the sources of income available to the broadcasting sector as a whole. The licence fee is made available to RTE to meet their public service obligations. The Government, therefore, consider it appropriate that a proportion of this licence fee revenue should be made available to the Independent Radio and Television Commission in order to enable their services meet their public service obligations under the Radio and Television Act, 1988. In the legislation, I have in mind allocating a portion of the proceeds of the licence fee within a defined ceiling to the IRTC. Under that proposal the amount which would be made available to the IRTC for disbursement would be of the order of £3 million in 1990.

Under legislative provisions which I will be presenting to the House within the next few days, this sum will be paid to the Independent Radio and Television Commission to enable them to support the establishment and operation of sound broadcasting services and the new television service provided for in the 1988 Act. In this connection it will be the duty of the commission to prepare and publish criteria to be used in determining the disbursements to be made to the services in question. I want to emphasise that the commission will be totally and absolutely independent of Government in their decisions as to disbursements to any service. In determining their criteria they shall take into account a number of factors including in particular the public service requirements of the 1988 Act.

A number of additional measures will be provided for in the legislation, not all, I might add, directly related to matters affecting independent broadcasting services. Among the provisions proposed are the following: to take power by order, subject to positive resolution in the Houses of the Oireachtas, to cap RTE's advertising revenue — although I do not intend seeking to exercise that power in the immediate future at least; greater control over codes of practice relating to advertising, sponsorship and other forms of commercial promotion on both RTE's and the independent broadcasting sector's services; right of the proposed TV3 service to supplement the cable and MMDS modes of transmission with a conventional UHF transmission system; an extension of the ambit of the Broadcasting Complaints Commission, primarily to enable certain obligations in relation to the "Right of Reply" under a recently adopted EC Directive on Broadcasting Activities to be transparently fulfilled; and a series of measures to cope with problems affecting the cable and MMDS industries such as interception of service and damage to systems.

Apart from these legislative measures, I mentioned earlier that the main rationale for the development of RTE's Radio 2 — or 2FM as it is now known — in the late seventies was to respond to the demand being manifested by the pirate stations then in existence. Apart from the fact that it is questionable whether that service actually responded to the real need at the time — which was for alternative services as much as for a popular music station — it is certainly questionable at this time, given the major developments and alternatives available in broadcasting, as to whether its current format represents the best use of what is, in effect, a scarce and valuable national resource.

In this regard, it is considered that there is a whole area of broadcasting — closer to the primary public service broadcasting mission of RTE — which is not being adequately catered for at this time. I have in mind, for instance, the area of education and the contribution that broadcasting can make there — for example, in the field of continental languages which is particularly important as we approach 1992 and also indeed in respect of the Irish language because, notwithstanding the excellent service provided by Radio na Gaeltachta, their primary focus is to serve the population of the Gaeltachtaí as distinct from the more general public whose grasp of the language may be limited but who nevertheless have a strong affinity with it.

Other areas which are poorly catered for would include the rural and farming sectors, business and trade union affairs, social welfare and social affairs advice and information as well as a range of special interest and specialist music areas. The Government have, therefore, decided to ask the new RTE Authority, as a matter of priority, to develop plans for an alternative use of the 2FM network which will be more in keeping with the public service mandate of RTE.

To revert briefly to the legislative proposals, it will be noted that the emphasis of the approach being adopted relates to the use of licence fee revenue as against going for an immediate curb on advertising revenue. While, as I mentioned, I envisage taking power to enable RTE advertising revenue to be capped, subject to positive resolution by the Houses of the Oireachtas, I do not envisage seeking to exercise the power in the immediate future at least.

There were a variety of considerations which I took into account over the past few weeks as my proposals crystallised which led me to the conclusion that to concentrate on the advertising side might not achieve the desired result. In particular, while my concern has been to create a fairer competitive environment for all the media — including the print media who have particular concerns in this regard — one of the real dangers I foresaw was the possibility that much of the advertising revenue one might seek to divert would leak out to external television services. Nevertheless, a number of the measures I am taking will, I believe, go a long way towards meeting the concerns of the print media, in particular those governing codes of practice relating to advertising, sponsorship and other forms of commercial promotion, on broadcasting services.

I am indeed heartened by the recognition on the other side of the House of the necessity to take such action as set out by the Opposition spokesman on Finance, in an article in the Irish Independent of 16 May last when he said:

Ireland's newspaper industry is not being allowed to compete for advertising on a level playing field because RTE are on an inside track. The expansion in radio and the proposed TV3 has provided other outlets for advertising and, while the newspaper industry was not afraid of competition, the competition should be fair. Another positive development which has taken place as a result of the Government's broadcasting policy is the introduction of Multi-point Microwave Distribution Systems or MMDS as we know it. The Government's objective here is to provide real multi-channel television choice in a professional, technically competent manner. A key element of this new venture is that subscribers in rural Ireland will be afforded the same quality and continuity of service which is currently available on cable systems mainly in urban areas.

Licences have been issued in respect of MMDS cells covering the whole country and some licensees are already up and running offering service to subscribers. Ireland is leading the field in the introduction of this system in Europe and many other countries are expressing keen interest in these developments. The development of this service will put another major piece of the Government's policy in place. As soon as it is in place it is my intention to bring the full rigour of the law to bear on illegal television retransmission systems and to ensure that they are put off, and remain off, the air.

One of the concerns mentioned in the Opposition motion relates to the impact in Ireland of transnational and satellite broadcasting services. As I have already said, I was very aware of the fundamental nature of these changes right from the time I took office and I have tried to ensure that Irish broadcasting will have developed to meet that challenge in a confident and effective way.

Technology costs are decreasing for satellite transmission and choice is increasing quite dramatically. Fixed satellite services are being used to feed television programming to cable head ends. Direct broadcasting satellites have been launched by a number of European countries. We have our own ambitions in this area through the Atlantic satellites project.

All the indicators converge in the one direction: the elimination of frontiers and the internationalisation of audiences. The process is inevitable and irreversible and its implications are becoming more important every day. These developments require joint analysis at European level and a collective effort by European countries to formulate an international broadcasting framework to cope with them. That framework has already been laid down in two international legal instruments which will shortly come into force, namely the European Convention on Transfrontier Television, and the European Council Directive on Broadcasting Activities.

These instruments establish the following rules and standards: freedom of expression and information in accordance with Article 10 of the European Convention on Human Rights; all broadcasts must comply with the law of the member state from which they emanate; all programmes shall respect the dignity of the human being and the fundamental rights of others. They shall not be indecent, and in particular contain pornography or give undue prominence to violence or be likely to incite to racial hatred; all items of programme service which are likely to impair the physical, mental or moral development of children and adolescents shall not be scheduled when, because of time of transmission and reception, they are likely to watch them; the broadcaster shall ensure that views fairly present facts and events and encourage the free formation of opinion; provision is made for a right of reply where reputation and good name have been damaged by an assertion of incorrect facts in a television programme — the forthcoming Bill will contain a section which, if passed, would enact this provision into Irish law; detailed provisions are made regarding the form, content and amount of advertising and sponsorship; there is a provision regarding cultural objectives and in particular the development of European audio-visual production; and a guarantee of right of reception in all participating states, where physically possible, of broadcasting services emanating from those states which comply with the requirements of the instruments.

All this work has been going on over the last three years and has involved countless hours spent in meetings while a Europe-wide agreement was forged. These instruments will, I believe, prevent the excesses of a totally commercially driven international broadcasting sector and allow the positive aspects of an increase in services to emerge. Given the work done at international level and the fact that the reception of satellite services is inevitable, I feel that it would be totally unproductive to have a review group sit now and ponder these questions.

I referred earlier to the strong position of RTE in broadcasting in this country. I have often said that this is rightly so. It has a vital role to play in broadcasting and this will continue to be the case. Its public service ethos will continue to be cherished all the more so as the commercial sector develops. The Government commitment to a strong public broadcasting service is self-evident from the Government's approval of new developments in RTE over the past few years such as approval to transmit a new lunch time television news service on RTE 1; additional broadcasting hours to enable RTE 2 television to commmence transmissions at 3 p.m. daily; additional broadcasting hours for the Raidio na Gaeltachta service; an extra hour a day to enable Radio 1 to continue broadcasting until 1 a.m. each morning; and additional broadcasting hours for the FM3 service and Cork Local Radio. RTE were also given approval to build a new extension to the television studios in Donnybrook. This new extension is almost completed and will play a major part in facilitating the making of drama series such as "Glenroe" and "Fair City".

Another issue mentioned in this motion is the important matter of Irish language services. It is generally accepted that Raidio na Gaeltachta provides a first class service to the Gaeltachtaí and indeed to the entire country and as I have already indicated that service has been further expanded over the past few years.

The position in regard to Irish language television is that Údarás na Gaeltachta produced a report late last year indicating that such a service could be provided at a capital cost of £5.2 million and annual running costs of £9.6 million for a service of two hours per night. That report has been examined by my Department in relation to the technical and frequency management aspects of the proposal. The Department agree broadly, albeit with some important reservations, with the conclusions regarding the technical aspects of the service — although there are some serious limitations with the approach envisaged — and also with the cost parameters and has informed Roinn na Gaeltachta accordingly.

In reference to the motion before the House, the proposals which I have just announced will fully meet Deputy Mitchell's encouragement that I take all reasonable steps to maintain present services but I am not prepared to accept his proposals for a review body.

To conclude therefore, the proposals which I outlined tonight and which I will very shortly be bringing forward in legislative form will create a fairer competitive environment for all concerned and will, I believe, greatly further our overall objective of allowing a vibrant and competitive broadcasting and audio-visual sector to develop in Ireland.

Mr. T. O'Sullivan

The Minister said in reply to Deputy Mitchell that when it came to the introduction of this broadcasting legislation he had no hangups about ideology. Following his announcement tonight it is fairly obvious that he was not burdened by any such problems. The Minister has announced that £3 million is to be given to private sector broadcasting despite the fact that all parties in this House who voted for the introduction of this legislation were committed to the market economy. Are we to take it that Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael and the Progressive Democrats now accept the principle of funding to the private sector?

Mr. J. Mitchell

The Workers' Party do as well.

Mr. T. O'Sullivan

I am not concerned about The Workers' Party. We have had our position for many years which Fine Gael did their utmost to obstruct, despite the fact that it was part of an agreement for Government, one of the 14 points we made prior to entering into Government with the Deputy's party.

We have here a motion which both speakers briefly referred to. There are four sections in the motion laid down by Deputy Mitchell. It is fairly obvious, however, that what was intended was funding for Century Radio. This he has achieved. Having made our position on private broadcasting very clear during the passage of this legislation, we accept the decision of this House. It would not be in anybody's interest at this stage to see Century or any of the other radio stations close because people's livelihood depends on them.

I am somewhat taken aback by some of the points made here tonight. We have had reference to the level playing pitch. If I were playing on that pitch I would like to start off on the Minister's side because it is obvious that it would be downhill from then on. We heard reference to the light touch and interference. It seems that once again the Minister has dealt a heavy-handed blow to RTE who refuse to die despite the best efforts of both the Minister and Deputy Mitchell to put them down. They have responded to the challenges presented to them. We were told that the middle-aged, middle class and middle-brow type of broadcasting would not survive. It is fairly obvious that that is what won the day. RTE continue to prosper despite the best efforts of Minister Burke and Deputy Mitchell.

RTE have provided a good service through the years. We, however, are now giving a handout of £3 million with little in return. If Century Radio or any of the commercial radio stations are in difficulty I would have no objection to providing temporary funding provided that when things got better, that money would be refunded but it is totally at variance with Government policy on public expenditure to dole out £3 million. It is outrageous and is an abuse of public funds. We have been told that RTE may have a little competition as a result of this but that is the type of incentive they could do without. To add insult to injury we have been told that part of the licence fee will be given to private individuals. In my view that represents misappropriation of funds entrusted to the State. The House should not allow this to continue.

I hope Deputy Mitchell will oppose this measure. I agree with funding on a temporary basis provided a refund is paid, but, obviously, that will not happen. Provision has not been made for the return of that money if the company becomes profitable. That is not acceptable to us. Deputy Mitchell described the Minister's performance as something between burlesque and ballet. I do not know if I could be considered a square dancer but in my view the House has been conned by the Deputy and the Minister. It was a nice pincer movement tonight. Both of them achieved their aim by ensuring that the creature they created will not die an untimely death.

Deputy Mitchell told us that a crisis was imminent and we can safely report that that crisis has been averted courtesy of the Minister for Communications. Deputy Mitchell told us that any attempt to divert money from RTE would benefit TV stations across the Border and, having heard the Minister's speech, I wonder if he feels the same. I would be interested to hear another speaker from his party respond to that statement.

We have been told that it would be bad for RTE if Century Radio collapsed but in my view RTE have proved beyond doubt that they can provide a service second to none, despite the onslaught, the hype, the Government's support for other stations and the obstacles put in their way. The Minister told us about the largesse he dispensed to RTE by extending their hours of broadcasting. However, he dug his heels in regard to the city of Cork in that he would not concede one extra hour. If anything the Minister has reduced the broadcasting time for that city.

The Minister told us that the MMDS system would be available throughout the country but if he goes to the west or the south he will find areas that do not have any chance of availing of that system in the foreseeable future. I should like to compliment the Minister on the swift action he took to put the pirate stations out of commission. However, there is a problem in regard to reflector stations. If that system is to be done away with many people will not have a service for a long time. The Minister should give further consideration to this matter. I hope that the crystallisation that has taken place in the last few days will continue and that the Minister will provide a service for those who will not be served by the MMDS system. The Minister has ignored the health implications of that system. Many eminent medical practitioners have expressed a fear that the rays from that system will be a health hazard but those views have been ignored by the Minister. He did not make any reference to it in his speech.

The Labour Party have since 1979 held the view that broadcasting should be developed by RTE and local community associations. There is no doubt that the policy we pursued from day one was the correct one and we have been vindicated in our views tonight. How many more private stations are in danger of closing? We have heard of amalgamations and of stations that have not taken up the option despite having been given a licence by the IRTC. The Minister's announcement tonight is a further body blow to RTE. It is contrary to Government policy. We were told that there would be no more funding to the private sector but that changed tonight. This is unbelievable and is contrary to what all parties on the right have been advocating for many years. We will not be supporting Deputy Mitchell's motion. I see it as a ploy to achieve funding for Century Radio and that has already succeeded. While the Minister may be complimented by Century Radio for doing that, in my view this represents a sad day for broadcasting in Ireland.

Mr. D. Ahern

With the permission of the House I should like to share my time with Deputy O'Donoghue.

An Leas-Cheann Comhairle

Strictly speaking, that is a matter for the House. Is that agreed? Agreed.

Mr. D. Ahern

I am pleased to have an opportunity to contribute to the debate. I was amused at Deputy Mitchell's contribution. He had 40 minutes to make his point but he chose not to take the full time and that speaks volumes for his attitude to the tremendous steps taken by the Government in recent years in regard to broadcasting.

Mr. Mitchell

The Minister did not take all his time. Brevity is the soul of wit.

Mr. D. Ahern

It is obvious that Deputy Mitchell does not have a lot to say about our policy on broadcasting. He has tried to get on a bandwagon with his motion which deplores failure in several areas but does not compliment the Government on their successes. Deputy Mitchell should recall that the Fine Gael Party and the Labour Party when in Government failed to deal with the problem of pirate stations and that was because of the ideological problems between the two parties. They were not fit or able to deal with them.

Mr. T. O'Sullivan

A sum of £3 million is not a hallmark of success; a £3 million bail out.

An Leas-Cheann Comhairle

Deputy Ahern should be allowed broadcast without interruption.

Mr. D. Ahern

The truth is bitter to swallow. We are all aware that because of difficulties when in Government and parties opposite did not do anything about the mushrooming of pirate radio stations around the country. I should like to compliment the Minister, and his predecessor, for dealing with this problem and making changes. As a party we took a lot of flak in the last election because local radio stations were not in operation but the public accept that we have done a good job since. Some people query the way the IRTC have done their business. However, it was naive to think that community radio stations would come on stream very quickly because of the number of teething problems that had to be solved. Some have had to cope with many difficulties. In my area the LMFM station have proved to be very good in comparison with other stations. I hope the local radio scene remains with us but the community radio service will take a little longer to come on stream.

As a public representative I have found that local radio has permitted locals to discuss problems in their areas. There is no doubt that those problems would not have been highlighted on national stations. For years my home town has been complaining about the lack of proper coverage of events. There has been a lot of publicity of the bad events in that area but we have not had the vehicle to promote ourselves. Thankfully, that has been put right by RTE and that may be due to the competition they face in the area. I understand that in the near future RTE will be establishing a district station in Dundalk which will include a radio studio and facilities for television broadcasts. I hope the bad image that has been portrayed of that area will be put right when we get that station.

Many people forget that local radio has provided a good emergency service, similar to what was available on the pirate stations. In my area this service were able to contact people at short notice to let them know when there was an emergency. While the local radios were shelved there was a problem but now that they are again up and running this should be catered for.

Another area which has caused difficulties with the national radio stations — I am thinking particularly of Century and local radio stations — is the requirement to have 20 per cent of their output devoted to news and current affairs. Perhaps this should be reconsidered because it is quite obvious that a number of the stations very near the borderline in that regard are succeeding. They are probably not providing the optimum amount of news but, because they are providing wall to wall music, they are succeeding. Obviously, there is a market for that kind of music.

I am worried that the sum of £3 million set aside from the licence fee to help the IRTC might eventually rise to £30 million. The Minister should look into this and the matter should be teased out before enshrining it in legislation because it might cause problems in future.

Radio stations could help in teaching foreign languages because we have neglected to provide such courses in schools. Perhaps, in the proposed legislation, the Minister will look at this aspect. The other area where most Deputies have been lobbied is in relation to the Irish language television station. I am sure that most Deputies would like to see such a station introduced as quickly as possible. Various lobby groups have been very active recently and I acknowledge the fact that the Minister is preparing to bring forward proposals in this regard. The sooner the better.

The Minister also referred to the extension of the Broadcasting Complaints Commission. We would all welcome this because there have been complaints recently about subjects which were discussed on RTE chat shows. There has been disquiet that various topics, which should not be discussed on the radio, have been broadcast. As I said earlier, Fine Gael should be the last party to criticise the Government because, during their term of office, their efforts were abysmal. Indeed, that is probably why Deputy Jim Mitchell took so little time to speak.

Deputy Jim Mitchell referred to the cross-Border radio stations. An illegal station is broadcasting on the northern side of the Border into the Republic near where I live which engenders advertising revenue from the area. obviously, this could be taken up by the Minister through the Anglo-Irish Secretariat or with his Northern counterparts. Local radios have been unable to increase their revenue from advertising because, until recently, RTE had a monopoly in the area. It is very difficult for local radios to generate advertising from the areas in which they operate and, even in my own area, relatively small companies advertise on RTE. It would be better if they advertised on local radio which would support local industry and involvement.

I compliment the Minister for what he has done over the last three years in the area of broadcasting. Indeed, he has not received credit for his efforts.

Mr. O'Donoghue

I will preface my remarks by saying that nothing influences the public mind or leaves such an imprint on public opinion as the media. In this regard our broadcasting service over the years has been without doubt — for the most part — responsible in its reporting of events and, with some exceptions, it has been fair.

When speaking on a motion of this kind the sensitivity of the issue is brought home to one by the divergence of views. There appears to be a belief, for example, that by taking the sum of £3 million from RTE and giving it to the IRTC one is placing RTE in a disadvantageous position. With all due respect to RTE, nothing could be further from the truth. Monopolies are inherently defective. When there is no competition very often standards can and will fall. Competition adds spice to any business and this also applies to the broadcasting service. When one questions the fairness of taking £3 million of RTE's licence fee revenue and giving it to the IRTC one should also consider whether the print media are at a disadvantage compared with RTE. The answer must be irrefutably yes because the print media have been at an unfair disadvantage. RTE have been in a position to obtain licence fees and revenue from broadcasting and advertising and, of course, the print media do not receive licence fees.

It is abundantly clear that when one wants to level the playing pitch, one is trying to be fair and, in this context, the Minister is being fair. If we do not have competition in the modern Europe, foreign television and radio stations will fill the vacuum by taking away something inherently Irish. The culture and traditions of our country are expressed through the national broadcasting media. They can be equally well expressed on a level playing pitch through an independent television or radio station. In this context we must accept that serious problems exist in relation to our media. It is a great pity, for example, that Century are in difficulties and it is a tragedy that The Irish Press— a leading newspaper for many years — are also in difficulties. The most important aspect of our media has been that, to a large extent, it told the truth. The slogan of The Irish Press was “the truth in the news”. If external interests are to come here to fill the undoubted vacuum created by Century Radio and The Irish Press— in the light of experience over the years — then one cannot be absolutely certain that, in some cases, the truth will not be distorted. We must recognise that distortions in broadcasting, in the print media constitute the easiest forms of escapism.

In general such distortions have not been prevalent within the Irish media to date. It would be my fear that in those circumstances such could occur. Obviously such consequences would not be in the interests of our people. Certainly it would not be in the interests of the future of this country that any national medium be controlled from outside. Such eventuality would lead to a replacement of the values, traditions and culture our people have enjoyed — through the print and broadcasting media — over several decades. In the final analysis that is the choice presenting the greatest danger: whether one will operate a system within one's country, with broadcasting services controlled by one's own people, or allow the vacuum be filled externally. It has been unfortunate that in recent years British newspapers have been sold here at much lower prices than indigenous ones. The need to protect our print media is at least as important as the need to ensure competition within television stations and airwaves.

I heard Deputy Toddy O'Sullivan say that the transference of £3 million to the IRTC was an abuse of public funds. I would describe it as something else — an honest attempt by the Minister for Communications to ensure that Irish companies and people are gainfully employed in a competitive manner on our airwaves. I cannot over-stress that the truth must prevail. It is my belief that acceptance of the Minister's proposal will ensure a continuance of the truth.

Since its formation Radio na Gaeltachta has been a model for every local radio station, its contribution to the people of the Gaeltacht being indeed significant. Indeed the argument could be advanced that the Irish language would be in a poorer state today were it not for their outstanding contribution. It has been a model of consistency, of truth, and continues to render an outstanding service.

It is also true that the media can be utilised in a greater educational process than was the case in the past. I welcome the Minister's statement that in the future foreign languages will be included. It is crucial that such languages be learned here within the context of an enlarged, unified Europe. Such learning will add a greater dimension to Irish education generally. Television, in particular, can be a great educator. It is indeed unfortunate that, in recent years, its educational role has not been all one might expect. Admittedly some programmes with an educational content have been broadcast, many most informative, but it is vital that the television medium be used to a greater extent for this purpose. In due course the Minister might consider the concept of an Open University, with all that that would entail and its undoubted advantages accruing to adults and younger people alike.

We must state our aims specifically this evening. The choice lies between a vacuum which will be filled from outside the country or the maintenance of our indigenous controlled companies. In the light of past experience, faced with that choice, I would go for the truth. It is my belief that the Minister's proposals and his work to date will achieve that objective.

It is ironic that Deputy Jim Mitchell should table such a motion as this when one remembers the period of inactivity and the absolute muddle of our airwaves for so many years prior to 1987. It is true that nothing material was done in regard to the legalisation of community radio, the introduction of a third television station or an alternative national radio station by the then Fine Gael dominated Coalition Government. There were squabbles within and without that Government but nothing of any note was achieved. It must be recognised that the Minister has achieved a considerable amount within a short period. It must also be accepted that community radio here is in its infancy and is bound to encounter teething problems. What this House should and must address is a continuation of Irish media in the manner in which it has been conducted to date, thereby ensuring that the best possible standards are attained. We must acknowledge that always competition is inevitable if one is to succeed.

Mr. McGinley

Tá lúchair orm deis a bheith agam labhairt ar an tairiscint seo atá curtha os comhair na Dála ag ár n-urlabhraí ar chúrsaí craolacháin, an Teachta Jim Mitchell. Sílim go bhfuil sé tráthúil go bhfuil an rún seo os comhair na Dála mar go bhfuil míshuaimhneas agus míshásamh ar go leor daoine ar fud na tíre, go díreach cad é atá ag tarlú i gcúrsaí raidió agus i gcúrsaí teilifíse go náisiúnta i láthair na huaire.

Is é an mórscéal sna páipéir nuachta agus ar na meáin chumarsáide eile le roinnt seachtainí anuas ná na deacrachtaí móra atá ag cuid de na stáisiúin a cuireadh ar bun le tamall anuas. Fiú amháin ag an deireadh seachtaine is é an mórscéal a bhí ann ná cad é atá i ndán do Century Radio. Tá sé mar ábhar cainte ar fud na tíre agus is cóir go mbeadh deis againn an cheist a phlé anseo sa Dáil, an áit a ndéantar na socruithe agus a leagtar síos polasaithe craolacháin don tír ar fad.

Chomh fada agus a bhaineann sé liom féin, tá suim ar leith agam sa tseirbhís atá á cur ar fáil trí mheán na Gaeilge agus an tseirbhís a bheidh á cur ar fáil san am atá romhainn. Mar gheall ar an raidió, ní shílim go bhfuil aon ghearán againn sa tír seo. Ó cuireadh Raidió na Gaeltachta ar bun i 1972, sílim, sin ocht mbliana déag ó shin, aontaíonn gach duine ó gach taobh den Teach go bhfuil an-obair ar fad déanta acu ó thaobh chraolacháin i nGaeilge. Ní amháin go gcuireann siad seirbhís an-mhaith ar fáil do na ceantair Ghaeltachta sa tír, ó Dhún na nGall go Corcaigh agus Ciarraí, ach cuireann siad seirbhís an-mhaith ar fáil do Ghaeilgeoirí ar fud na tíre ar fad.

Tá éisteacht ag Raidió na Gaeltachta taobh amuigh den Ghaeltacht, chomh maith le taobh istigh den Ghaeltacht. Dúirt mé cheana, agus déarfaidh mé arís é, cé nach bhfuil aon pháipéar nuachta laethúil sa tír trí Ghaeilge, mar sin féin, tá muintir na Gaeltachta agus Gaeilgeoirí ar fud na tíre ábalta seirbhís an-mhaith a fháil ó Raidió na Gaeltachta. Cuirtear an nuacht go speisialta ar fáil dóibh chomh maith le haon pháipéar nuachta, agus sílim go bhfuil an-seirbhís á soláthar acu. Leoga, Raidió Éireann féin, sula dtáinig Raidió na Gaeltachta ar an saol, bhí cláir Ghaeilge ar siúl acusan freisin agus tá cláir Ghaeilge ar siúl acu go fóill. Tá an-obair á déanamh ag RTÉ mar sheirbhis náisiúnta raidió agus tá siad ag amharc i ndiaidh cluichí, oideachais, spóirt, teanga, ceoil clasaicigh, popcheoil agus ceoil thraidisiúnta.

Tá an-seirbhís á cur ar fáil ag RTÉ iad féin agus tá ár dtacaíocht tuillte acu. É sin ráite, ba mhaith liom a rá leis an Aire, chomh fada agus a bhaineann sé le raidió FM2, tá a lucht éisteachta féin acusan, ach cuireann sé isteach go mór orm mar urlabhraí Gaeltachta do mo pháirtí féin, nach bhfuil oiread agus focal Gaelige le cloisteáil ar an stáisiún sin. Is stáisiúin náisiúnta é, is deirfiúr é le RTÉ Raidió, agus is mór an trua nach bhfuil oiread is focal amháin Gaeilge le cloisteáil ar an stáisiún sin.

Mar atá a fhios ag gach duine, tá muintir óg na tíre ag éisteacht le FM2. Cuireann na figiúirí agus na staitisticí an t-eolas sin ar fáil dúinn agus is mór an trua nach bhfuil deis ag na daoine óga a bhíonn ag éisteacht le FM2 cúpla focal Gaeilge, cúpla abairt Gaeilge, cúpla amhrán Gaeilge anois agus arís a chloisteáil air. Maidir leis an aos óg, tá lucht éisteachta níos mó ag FM2 ná mar atá ag RTÉ Raidió 1, agus, dá bhrí sin, dá mbeadh an Ghaeilge le cloisteáil ansin anois agus arís, thabharfadh sé stádas agus éisteacht don Ghaeilge nach bhfuil le fáil i láthair na huaire. Sin an t-aon ghearán atá agam le RTÉ chomh fada agus a bhaineann sé le Gaeilge a chur i láthair an phobail.

Is tráthúil go bhfuil an rún seo á phlé againn, mar níl a fhios ag na daoine go díreach cad é atá i gceist ag an Rialtas nó ag an Aire. Bhí mé anseo breis agus bliain ó shin agus bhí ordú curtha amach an uair sin ag an Roinn Cumarsáide go raibh na deflectors go léir ar fud na tíre le dúnadh síos, chomh maith leis na stáisiúin bhradacha. Cuireadh na pirates ón aer ag an am sin, ach tá na deflectors ansin go fóill. Is é an fáth go raibh siad chun dúnadh síos ná go raibh seirbhís úr ann ar fud na tíre agus go raibh na stáisiúin go léir le bheith ar fáil trí chóras an MMDS. Go díreach, níl a fhios agam cad é chomh dáiríre agus atá an tAire agus an Rialtas maidir leis an gcóras sin. An bhfuil siad chun dul ar aghaidh leis? An bhfuil siad chun úsáid a bhaint as? An bhfuil siad cinnte gurb é an córas is fearr é?

Mar shampla, tá sé beartaithe Bealach 3 a chur ar fáil anois, an tríú bealach teilifíse sa tír seo. An mbeidh sé sin ag dul amach ar MMDS nó an mbeidh sé ag dul amach ar cheann de na miníochtaí eile atá ann. Sin ceist agus níl a fhios agam ar thug an tAire an freagra go fóill. Ach tá an cheist ag déanamh buartha do go leor daoine ar fud na tíre. Mar a dúirt mé, is é an raidió agus, go speisialta, an teilifís, an meán cumarsáide a théann i gcionn go mór ar mhuintir na tíre. Chomh fada agus a bhaineann sé le haos óg na tíre, tá an teilifís thar a bheith tábhachtach. Tá mé ag tarraingt mo scéil anois ar pholasaí an Rialtais. Cad é atá ar intinn acu maidir le seirbhís theilifíse Ghaeilge a chur ar fáil, ní amháin don Ghaeltacht, ach do mhuintir na tíre ar fad? Tá a fhios againn go léir ó na staitisticí agus na tuairiscí atá curtha ar fáil le tamall anuas go bhfuil an Ghaeilge faoi bhrú sna Gaeltachtaí. Chuir Reg Hindley tuairisc amach cúpla seachtain ó shin agus dúirt sé go bhfuil an Ghaeilge ag fáil bháis sna Gaeltachtaí. An tseachtain seo caite láinseáil an tAire Stáit i Roinn na Gaeltachta dhá thuairisc eile, ceann amháin a bhain le deontas na deich bpunt sna Gaeltachtaí, atá ag dul i laghad bliain i ndiaidh bliana, agus aiste an-mhaith leis an Ollamh Gearóid Ó Tuathaigh, a deir go bhfuil an Ghaeilge ag cúlú agus ag éirí níos laige.

Tá sé thar a bheith tábhachtach, má táimid chun tarrtháil a thabhairt don Ghaeilge, má táimid chun cuidiú leis an teanga, go mbeadh seirbhís theilifíse trí Ghaeilge ar fáil. Má chuirtear é sin ar fáil, tabharfaidh sé stádas don teanga nach bhfuil aici go dtí seo. Tá obair mhór déanta ag Raidió na Gaeltachta ach táimid i ré na teilifíse anois. Nuair a chluineann daoine an Ghaeilge ar an teilifís téann sé i gcionn go mór orthu agus is cinnte go rachaidh sé i gcionn go mór ar dhaoine óga. Anois tá sé ar eolas againn go léir gur iarr an Taoiseach ar Údarás na Gaeltachta tuarascáil a chur ar fáil tá dhá bhliain ó shin maidir le teilifís na Gaeltachta, agus go bhfuil sé sin curtha ar fáil ag Údarás na Gaeltachta le beagnach bliain, sílim i mí Mheán Fómhair seo caite. Cuireadh an tuarascáil sin ar fáil do Roinn na Gaeltachta agus don Roinn Cumarsáide, agus chuaigh sé go dtí RTÉ.

Ba mhaith linn go díreach a fháil amach cad é an dearcadh, nó cad é an polasaí atá ag an Rialtas maidir le seirbhís theilifíse Ghaeilge a chur ar fáil do mhuintir na tíre. Táimid go léir ag fanacht. Níl aon cheantar Gaeltachta sa tír ó Dhún na nGall go Ciarraí, go Port Láirge agus go Baile Atha Cliath, nach bhfuil cruinnithe ansin agus rún á mholadh ag iarraidh ar an Rialtas seirbhís theilifíse trí Ghaeilge a chur ar fáil go díreach mar atá molta ag Údarás na Gaeltachta sa tuarascáil a eisigh siad. Is é an moladh atá déanta acu gur seirbhís neamhspleách Ghaeilge a bheadh ann agus go mbeadh an ceannáras sa Ghaeltacht, go mbeadh stiúideo i gConamara, ceann i nDún na nGall agus ceann i gCorcaigh nó i gCiarraí, agus go gcuirfí cláir fhiúntacha ar fáil i nGaeilge do mhuintir na tíre dhá uair a chloig san oíche.

Rinne an tAire tagairt ina óráid do theilifís na Gaeltachta agus ceann de na rudaí a luaigh sé ná an costas atá leis, £9.6 mhilliún. Cuimhnímis, sa Bhreatain Bheag le blianta fada, tá seirbhís theilifíse neamhspleách Bhreatnaise acu a chraol-ann, sílim, ceithre huaire a chloig san oíche, agus an t-airgead curtha ar fáil ag Rialtas na Breataine, ag na stáisiúin neamhspleácha agus ag an BBC féin. Ag deireadh na bliana seo caite d'fhógair Rialtas na Breataine go bhfuil siad chun £8 milliún breise a chur ar fáil le seirbhís Gháidhlige níos fearr a chur ar fáil do na Gaeltachtaí i dtuaisceart na hAlban agus sna hoileáin.

Nuair a amharcaimid ar Mhór-Roinn na hEorpa, tá seirbhís theilifíse ar fáil do na mionteangacha sa Spáinn, san Iodáil, agus i dtíortha eile chomh maith. Seo muid sa tír seo, agus an Ghaeilge faoi bhrú, cé gurb í an phríomhtheanga í, an chéad teanga oifigiúil sa Bhunreacht, agus táimid go fóill ag argóint agus ag plé agus nílimid cinnte an fiú seirbhís mar sin a chur ar fáil nó nach fiú. Tá an t-am ag éirí gairid. Chonaic muid cad é mar atá ag éirí le Raidió na Gaeltachta, agus d'iarrfainn ar an Aire, atá ag éisteacht anseo, cinneadh a dhéanamh go luath agus dul ar aghaidh agus an tseirbhís seo a chur ar fáil.

Tá foireann iomlán oilte anois ag Údarás na Gaeltachta. Rinne siad cúrsa teilifíse i gConamara le bliain anuas. Tá siad réidh le dul i mbun oibre agus níl de dhíth ach cinneadh ón Rialtas agus an gheallúint a thug an Taoiseach féin dhá bhliain ó shin a chur i gcrích agus ansin an tseirbhís a chur ar bun.

Debate adjourned.