Vol. 525 No. 2
259 Mr. McGinley asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if the statutory role of the North-South language body is being implemented regarding the provisions in the Belfast Agreement which deal with extending the broadcast signal of TG4 in Northern Ireland and with the development of Irish language television production in Northern Ireland; and if the Government has sought or obtained the language body's advice on these matters. [24000/00]
In the Good Friday Agreement, the British Government undertook to "explore urgently with the relevant British authorities, and in co-operation with the Irish broadcasting authorities, the scope for achieving more widespread availability of Teilifís na Gaeilge in Northern Ireland".
As broadcasting remains a non-transferred matter, responsibility for it remains with the British Government rather than with the devolved institutions in Northern Ireland. Accordingly, broadcasting does not come within the framework of the North-South Ministerial Council nor of its associated implementation bodies. The language body has, therefore, no statutory role in relation to broadcasting in Northern Ireland.
As broadcasting remains the policy responsibility of the British Government, the Government has actively pursued this matter through the framework of the British-Irish Intergovernmental Conference. The Government fully shares the importance attached to this matter by the Deputy and will continue to pursue it with the British authorities and the relevant commercial interests.
