Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 26 May 1994

Vol. 443 No. 3

Written Answers. - Teilifís na Gaeilge.

Enda Kenny

Question:

140 Mr. E. Kenny asked the Minister for Arts, Culture and the Gaeltacht if his attention has been drawn to an expression of support given by his Minister of State in respect of the provision of a television studio under the auspices of Teilifís na Gaeilge to be sited at the Raidió na Gaeltachta studio in Castlebar, County Mayo; if he supports this view; and if he will give a commitment to have it examined with a view to being provided; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

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

I refer the Deputy to my replies to earlier questions on Teilifís na Gaeilge and in particular to my comprehensive reply on 15 December 1993, columns 626 to 633 of the Official Report for that day. As I have said, RTE have been given the responsibility for the construction of the infrastructure necessary to establish Teilifís na Gaeilge as a national service and, until I have had the opportunity to introduce legislation which would allow Teilifís na Gaeilge to be established as a separate legal entity, for the operation of the new service, the RTE Authority have appointed a Comhairle to advise them on certain aspects of the establishment and operation of the service.

Accordingly the issue raised by the Deputy is entirely a matter for RTE and I have no function in the matter. I understand that the Minister of State was offering a personal opinion on the matter.