Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 2 Apr 1998

Vol. 489 No. 5

Written Answers. - Cablelink Development.

Jack Wall

Question:

28 Mr. Wall asked the Minister for Public Enterprise if she will make available the report she received from Telecom Éireann on the future development of Cablelink; the proposals, if any, she has made to the board of Telecom Éireann regarding the future development of Cablelink in response to the report; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8363/98].

Ivan Yates

Question:

62 Mr. Yates asked the Minister for Public Enterprise the decisions, if any, she has reached in relation to the proposed sale of Cablelink by the State agencies under her aegis; and the steps, if any, she or her Department have taken over recent months in relation to the Telecom stakeholding in this regard. [8497/98]

Minister for Public Enterprise (Mrs. O'Rourke)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 28 and 62 together.

In December last I received from Telecom Éireann its proposals on the future development of Cablelink and I am considering them carefully. I am not in a position to make the proposals publicly available.

The Deputy will appreciate that, as I have indicated to the House in replying to previous questions on this subject, any decision on the future of Cablelink must be taken in consultation with Telecom Éireann's strategic partners, KPN/Telia. The Minister for Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands also has an interest in respect of RTE's 25 per cent shareholding in the company.

In the context of the Government's overall policy in relation to the information society, it is vital that the correct decision is made in terms of Cablelink's future development, particularly given the enhanced capability of cable networks to deliver interactive multimedia services, voice telephony and digital TV. In that regard the consultative process is of paramount importance.

Since receiving the proposals, I have met the management of the company, the unions representing employees in the Company — SIPTU and the ATGWU — and the Communications Workers Union representing the employees in Telecom Éireann. There have also been consultations with the strategic partners.

I met the board of Telecom Éireann on 26 March and the future of Cablelink was one of the issues raised. I indicated to the board that the matter would be considered shortly by the Government and, in fact, this matter is scheduled to be considered by the Government at its meeting next week.