Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 16 Dec 1997

Vol. 485 No. 2

Written Answers. - Television Services.

Ivan Yates

Question:

287 Mr. Yates asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands the conclusions, if any, the Government has reached in relation to policy development on the legal and regulatory framework for digital terrestrial television services in Ireland; and if she will set out a timeframe for the establishment of these regulatory decisions in view of the pace at which decisions are being made in this regard affecting the United Kingdom and Northern Ireland. [22972/97]

Minister for Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands (Miss de Valera)

I refer the Deputy to my reply to Questions Nos. 49 and 52 of 23 October 1997. I have received the submission from RTE referred to in that reply, which proposes a possible strategy for the provision of digital terrestrial television in this country. The RTE submission will inform my thinking as I develop a policy in relation to digital broadcasting, which, as I have indicated in my earllier reply, I regard as a priority.