Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 15 Dec 1993

Vol. 437 No. 3

Written Answers. - Teilifís na Gaeilge.

Frances Fitzgerald

Question:

106 Ms F. Fitzgerald asked the Minister for Arts, Culture and the Gaeltacht the views, if any, he has on the comments in the report of the Special Working Group on the Film Production Industry to the effect that the establishment of Teilifís na Gaeilge, estimated then at a capital cost of £18 million and annual running costs of £5 million, would not be economically justifiable in present circumstances.

Frances Fitzgerald

Question:

107 Ms F. Fitzgerald asked the Minister for Arts, Culture and the Gaeltacht the research, if any, which was commissioned prior to the establishment of Teilifís na Gaeilge.

Minister for Arts, Culture and the Gaeltacht (Mr. M. Higgins)

Tógfaidh mé Ceisteanna Scríofa 196 and 107 le chéile.

I am concerned that by the tone of the various questions put down by the Deputy for oral and written answer on the topic of Teilifís na Gaeilge to-day that she appears to be opposed to the project. The Deputy is after all the Fine Gael spokesperson on Arts, Culture and Gaeltacht affairs. I hope I am mistaken in my impression and that she appreciates that many more considerations, other than purely economic ones must be taken into account in addressing cultural issues, particularly the preservation and promotion of the Irish language as a living language.

I have no comment to offer on the observations of one member of a 31 member group contained in the report in question other than to point out that the representative recognised, in principle, the desirability of such a service. The group in paragraph 4.25 of the report stated its belief that the establishment of such service would be of significant benefit to the independent production sector which represents a growing and important economic activity.

With regard to the question of research, various reports and studies into the feasibility of establishing an Irish language television station have been undertaken over the years. The results of these deliberations were taken into consideration when the commitment to establish the service was included in ourProgramme for a Partnership Government 1993-1997.