I welcome the Minister of State at the Department of Transport, Energy and Communications, Deputy Stagg and his officials. I thank his officials for briefing my colleagues in private session and for the detailed briefing document they prepared. We are dealing with the Telecommunications (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill, 1996 on Committee Stage.
Business of Select Committee.
Teilifís na Gaeilge will start on 1 November. There will be a strong interest in covering proceedings in Leinster House, particularly discussions held in Irish. If any Members of this committee wish to contribute in the Irish language, is there a facility for translation? We should ensure Teilifís na Gaeilge has an opportunity to broadcast committees as well as the Dáil, where there is a translation system.
There is no provision for translation at the moment but we will raise the matter as soon as possible. We may take it up with the Committee on Procedures and Privileges who will meet this afternoon. I will make the necessary inquiries and correspond with the Deputy as soon as I can.
I raise the matter here as this is a Telecommunications Bill, which is associated with broadcasting.
I was not aware the question would be raised. The Deputy appreciates I will have to inquire about the matter, which I will do as soon as humanly possible.
Telecommunications (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill, 1996: Committee Stage.
Section 1 agreed to.
SECTION 2.
Question proposed: "That section 2 stand part of the Bill."
Is the Minister aware of the IBEC submission in which it favours the overall allocation of frequency blocks being retained within the Department in the Minister's control and which allows for allocation of those parts of the spectrum relevant to public telecommunications services, of the type industry is seeking, to be undertaken in an unhindered fashion by the regulator. That is a formal comment which I know IBEC have issued on section 2. Can the Minister take this comment on board?
I understand the matter referred to by the Deputy is covered in section 3.
It is on the IBEC submission which I and my colleagues have received. I will deal with it on section 3.
Question put and agreed to.