Vol. 460 No. 3
83 Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs the steps, if any, that have been taken to ensure that RTE reception will be available in the Glens of Antrim, and particularly in Ballycastle, County Antrim. [19145/95]
The Government places particular importance on the provision of greater access to RTE television services throughout Northern Ireland. The availability of RTE television in Northern Ireland can make a major contribution towards the creation of better North-South understanding and it can also assist in the process of reconciliation between the two main traditions in Northern Ireland.
The desirability of enhancing RTE service in Northern Ireland is fully supported by the Irish and British Governments.
The Anglo-Irish Intergovernmental Conference established a bilateral broadcasting group comprising officials and technical experts to examine the issue of RTE television reception in Northern Ireland. The group identified that the most significant improvement in the short-term could be achieved by increasing the power northwards from the RTE transmitter at Clermont Carn in County Louth.
However, the British side maintained that the increase in power could have adverse effects on the reception of its local services in Northern Ireland. Representatives of the two relevant regulatory agencies, the Department of Transport, Energy and Communications in Dublin and the Radiocommunications Agency in London, have been meeting to discuss ways of overcoming any problem of interference which could arise from an increased power output from Clermont Carn. While there are still difficult technical issues to resolve, they are confident of a successful outcome to the discussions.
