Vol. 485 No. 2
37 Mr. McDowell asked the Minister for Public Enterprise the policy, if any, she has regarding the future of a company (details supplied) owned jointly by RTÉ and Telecom Éireann; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22802/97]
It is Government policy that Cablelink be developed and upgraded to a state of the art multi-media platform and that the network be subject to open and non-discriminatory third party access obligations. This policy is in line with commitments given to the EU Commission last year during the discussions on Ireland's liberalisation timetable and the strategic alliance involving Telecom Éireann and KPN-Telia.
In my reply on 12 November 1997 to Question No. 111 on this subject, I indicated I had asked Telecom Éireann to present to me options for the future development of Cablelink. As the Deputy is aware, Telecom Éireann has a majority shareholding, 75 per cent, in Cablelink; RTÉ has a 25 per cent shareholding.
Last week, I received from Telecom Éireann its proposals in regard to the future of Cablelink and these are now under consideration by my Department. Any decision on the future of Cablelink will be taken in the context of the Government's overall policy in relation to the information society and the enhanced capability of cable networks to deliver interactive multi-media services, voice telephony and digital TV. The regulatory environment as regards the ownership, access to and delivery of such services will also be taken into consideration. Such decision will be taken in consultation with the strategic partners, RTE and the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands.
