I am confident it is not nor is it the last occasion I will have the pleasure of addressing the Deputy from this side of the House.
Deputy Molloy is mistaken in inferring from my statement to the House that it would take six months to draft the regulations. The import of what I said was that despite the substantial amount of preparatory work that would have to be done I was hopeful that it would be possible for applications to be received by the autumn. I am now hopeful that date might be brought forward.
In addition to drafting the necessary regulations, there is a range of other preparatory work to be done. One major task will be the need to prepare and publish a comprehensive national frequency list to help applicants in their selection of frequency channels. The selected channels must not cause interference to the national programme services which is why the frequency list is of importance. Work has already commenced in my Department in preparation for the operation of the scheme and it will be completed as soon as possible.
I made it clear when I announced the scheme that it will not operate as a nationwide one. I am surprised, therefore, that Deputy Noel Treacy is raising the question of nationwide coverage. I will repeat what I said in my statement:
The new systems will be licensed to operate in those parts of the country where appropriate frequency space can be identified by suitable applicants. Because of the shortage of frequency space the UHF scheme is not intended for, and will not provide, coverage to all parts of the country.
Thus I can give no guarantees that sufficient frequencies will be available in all parts of the country for which there is an intending applicant. The areas to be covered by the scheme will depend on applicants who meet the criteria set out in the scheme being licensed.
Deputy Molloy should know that contracts have not been awarded for the provision of multi-channel television by MMDS. What have been awarded are licences to operate MMDS. The actual licences are not public documents and are considered to be confidential to the licensees concerned and to my Department. The format for each licence is contained in the schedule to the Wireless Telegraphy (Television Programme Retransmission) Regulations, 1989.
I intend to see that the principles of fair competition will be observed in the award of licences under the new scheme. I do not accept the inference that these principles would be better served if I excluded MMDS and cable relay operators from participation in it. The essence of competition is a large number of participants. I cannot see how it would be fair to exclude potential participants.It is not the case that cable relay operators or anyone else will be licensed to provide service under the scheme in cable relay areas as these areas are expressly excluded from the scope of the scheme. I made this point perfectly clear in my statement to the House on the matter. In contrast, all non-cable areas of the country are licensed for MMDS service.
There is no question of the UK authorities exercising a veto over the award of licences. The point I tried to make in my statement in plain non-technical language is that there are complex co-ordination rules and procedures in place under international agreements which make it incumbent on Ireland, with all other parties to these agreements, to co-ordinate the use of frequency assignments with neighbouring countries.
That is how the UK comes into the picture. If applications are received with proposed frequency characteristics which fall into the category of those which require co-ordination, it is only right that I should make applicants aware now of Ireland's obligations in that regard. The co-ordination process can be lengthy and there is never a guarantee of a successful outcome. There is nothing new in that.
Deputy Molloy should also know that Teilifís na Gaeilge has been operating on an all-UHF basis since its inception. Likewise, although it is not yet on air, TV3 intends to operate only on UHF. While RTE has submitted a proposal to move its remaining VHF high power stations to UHF, in respect of the broadcasting of RTE 1 and Network 2, I have not taken a decision on that yet. This decision will be taken on the merits of the proposal and with due regard to the furtherance of national broadcasting policy rather than retransmission policy which is the subject of the new scheme.