Written Answers Nos. 29-37
29. Deputy Martin Ferris asked the Minister for Communications; Energy and Natural Resources his plans to add a channel showing Oireachtas proceedings as a Saorview channel; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43726/12]
View answerSection 125 and section 126 of the Broadcasting Act 2009 provide for the development of an Oireachtas TV channel to be known as the “Houses of the Oireachtas Channel”. This legislation provides that the channel should be established by the Commission of the Houses of the Oireachtas and that the oversight of the channel should be the responsibility of the “Joint Administration Committee”, a Joint Committee of the Houses of the Oireachtas. The establishment of such a channel and its carriage on the Saorview platform would, of course, involve certain production and transmission costs and, in this regard, Section 126 of the Act amends Schedule 1 of the Houses of the Oireachtas Commission Act 2003 to enable the Commission to fund the channel and to meet all expenses incurred in this respect.
In regard to the realisation of the Oireachtas TV project, I can confirm that I have recently received the report on the Oireachtas TV channel from the Houses of the Oireachtas and expect to meet the Ceann Comhairle shortly to discuss his plans in this regard. At this stage, I can confirm that space has been made available on Saorview should the Commission of the Houses of the Oireachtas decide that it wishes to proceed with the project.
31. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Communications; Energy and Natural Resources his views on whether it would be appropriate for there to be a remuneration cap for employees in broadcasting organisations that are in receipt of public funding; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43720/12]
View answerRTÉ and TG4 are independent national public service broadcasters whose remit and obligations are set out in Section 114 and Section 118 of the Broadcasting Act 2009. Section 98 of the 2009 Act also provides that these companies shall be independent in the pursuance of these objects, subject to the requirements of the Act, and as such I, as Minister, have no function in the management of their day to day affairs, including matters relating to remuneration.
RTÉ is currently engaged in an ongoing restructuring exercise, which will involve a reduction in staff numbers across the organisation and is seeking to reduce costs where possible. The organisation has experienced a significant drop in revenues over the last few years. Its commercial revenue has fallen sharply and decisions taken in the December 2010 Budget substantially reduced its TV licence fee revenue. I have, in my discussions with the Chairman and Director General, expressed my concern that those best able to contribute to savings should do so. In addition, I should point out that in June of 2011, my colleague, the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, announced a €200,000 pay ceiling for future appointments to higher positions across the public service which applies to all established RTÉ and TG4 employees. While this would not be applicable to contracted staff, the Director General of RTÉ has made it clear that pay cuts of up to 30% shall apply to all contracted staff on renewal of their contracts.
I should also point out that arising from a Government decision of June 2011, a general policy has been adopted that a salary ceiling of €250,000 will apply to appointments of CEOs of Commercial State Bodies. This ceiling was applied in the case of the RTÉ Director General on his appointment in February, 2011 prior to the Government decision. No performance related pay was awarded or paid to the Director-General since his appointment and his salary is at a lower level than his predecessor in the role whose salary was €298,000 at January 1st 2009 and €261,000 at January 1st, 2010.
32. Deputy Martin Ferris asked the Minister for Communications; Energy and Natural Resources the number of Irish homes that have yet to make the switch over to Saorview; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43728/12]
View answerOn the 2nd of October I announced very encouraging results from a Millward Brown Lansdowne tracking study on the Digital TV Switchover which was carried out between September 10 - 20.
This research showed that between mid August and mid September 50,000 viewers who were reliant on analogue TV network made the switch to Digital TV, leaving approximately 150,000 still to make the switch. Awareness of the digital switchover has increased 1% to 94%, with awareness among users who are reliant on analogue - the main target group - even higher at 97%. Awareness that it is happening this month is at 92%, an increase of 10%. I decided further research was needed to take into account the recent National Digital Switchover Week which ran from September 17th – 23rd. The Week was organised by my Department in partnership with The Wheel and Irish Rural Link. The Week saw 26 local Digital Outreach Champions across the country organise over 250 events in their communities to encourage those who have not yet switched to digital TV to do so.
The most recent research was carried to take into account National Digital Switchover Week. This research was carried out between 21st September and 3rd October. The findings show that;
The estimated number of households that need to switch in October is 100,000 down from 150,000 at mid September
There is now 99% awareness among analogue users
Minds are becoming more focussed as to the actual date – six in ten who are aware of the switchover nominate 24th October without being prompted.
Further findings are available on www.goingdigital.ie. Households who only use pay TV platforms such as SKY or UPC (82.1%, or just over 1,300,000 households, according to the latest ComReg Quarterly Report) are not affected by analogue switch off.
34. Deputy Sandra McLellan asked the Minister for Communications; Energy and Natural Resources his plans to introduce legislation to prevent one person from having a large percentage ownership of Irish media; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43733/12]
View answerAs the Deputy will be aware, a Government Decision was made at the end of May last year, on foot of a submission by my colleague the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, to draft a new Consumer and Competition Bill. Part of that decision involved giving effect in legislation to the recommendations of the Report of the Advisory Group on Media Mergers, and to transfer responsibility for public interest considerations from the Minister of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation to myself. A series of discussions were held at Ministerial and official level on this subject, both before and after the Government Decision, and contacts are ongoing on the matter.
Primary responsibility for promulgating the Consumer and Competition Bill 2012 rests with the Minister for Jobs Enterprise and Innovation. I understand that the Consumer and Competition Bill 2012 is one of a number of Government Bills currently being drafted, and that it is likely to be later in the year before a draft Bill is published and brought before the Oireachtas. The critical role of the media in our democracy, and the potentially harmful effects of an over concentration of media ownership, means that this issue is a vitally important one. The Government remains committed to implementing a set of robust measures that allow for a transparent and objective assessment of the public good in media mergers cases, and to do so as quickly as possible.
35. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Communications; Energy and Natural Resources the date on which the RTÉ Network Limited will begin transmission of UK public service broadcasts on the Saorview system to complete the reciprocation as envisaged in the MoU (details supplied). [43721/12]
View answerThe Broadcasting Act 2009 provides for RTÉ and TG4 to provide their broadcast services, in as far as possible, throughout the whole island of Ireland. In developing plans for the development of digital television in Ireland, my predecessor was cognisant that the UK was also upgrading their television services to digital. Digital is more efficient than analogue TV. It is capable of carrying many more TV channels. In this regard and in order to provide for a coordinated approach to analogue switch off on both sides of the border relevant officials entered into discussions with their UK counterparts.
As a result of these discussions, a Memorandum Of Understanding (MOU) was signed jointly by the UK and Irish Governments on 1st February 2010. A copy of the MOU is available at www.dcenr.gov.ie .
The purpose of the Memorandum of Understanding is:
1. To provide a mechanism for co-operation between the Governments of Ireland and UK in providing a framework for the transition to digital terrestrial television and analogue switch off.
2. To provide for TG4 to be carried in Northern Ireland on the digital TV network;
3. To provide an opportunity for RTÉ to be transmitted within Northern Ireland and for BBC to be transmitted in Ireland.
In relation to TG4, the MOU draws on the Belfast (Good Friday) Agreement 1998 and the 2006 St. Andrews Agreement which provided for the availability of TG4 throughout Northern Ireland over the analogue network. The MOU extends this provision and secures the carriage of TG4 on the digital network in Northern Ireland. In relation to RTÉ, the MOU commits both Governments to seeking to find a technical and cost effective solution to the provision of RTÉ throughout Northern Ireland.
Since the MOU was signed, relevant Irish and UK officials and representatives from TG4 and RTÉ, have continued to meet and to work together to provide for the full implementation of the MOU. This work has led to an agreement on the provision of TG4, RTÉ and Raidio na Gaeltachta on a special multiplex in Northern Ireland and the establishment of a company owned jointly by RTÉ and TG4 to operate this multiplex. This new multiplex, which will begin operation on 24th October 2012- the date of Digital Switchover, provides 75% coverage within Northern Ireland. When the coverage is combined with overspill of the Irish TV channels from Ireland, Northern Ireland will have 94% coverage of these Irish TV channels. This is the first time in the history of broadcasting that RTÉ and TG4 will be available throughout the island of Ireland.
On the issue of BBC coverage within Ireland, this is a commercial matter for the BBC as, unlike RTÉ, the BBC has no mandate to provide coverage within Ireland. In this regard, my understanding is that, to date, the BBC has expressed no interest in being carried on SAORVIEW. Notwithstanding, BBC programming is freely available throughout Ireland over satellite and is also available in border areas via terrestrial TV overspill from the UK and Northern Ireland. Additionally, BBC is available on pay TV platforms in Ireland.
36. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Communications; Energy and Natural Resources if provisions will be made to broadcast county and city council proceedings; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43727/12]
View answerThe Broadcasting Act 2009 fully provides for the establishment and operation of The Houses of the Oireachtas Channel. In particular, section 125 and section 126 of the Broadcasting Act 2009 provide for the development of an Oireachtas TV channel to be known as the “Houses of the Oireachtas Channel”. This legislation also provides that the channel should be established by the Commission of the Houses of the Oireachtas and that the oversight of the channel should be the responsibility of the “Joint Administration Committee”, a joint committee of the Houses of the Oireachtas. Section 125 provides that the Oireachtas Channel shall primarily provide coverage of the Proceedings of the Houses of the Oireachtas, subject to the consent of the Joint Administration Committee, the Houses of the Oireachtas channel may also provide coverage of matters and events ancillary to proceeding of the Houses of the Oireachtas, including the proceedings of:
1. A local Authority ( within the meaning of the local Government Act 2001);
2. The implementation bodies (within the meaning of the British-Irish Agreement 1999);
3. The legislatures of other jurisdictions outside the state;
4. The institutions of the United Nations, the European Communities and the Council of Europe; and
5. Such other bodies and institutions as the Commission of the Houses of the Oireachtas considers appropriate.
The legislation also provides that the Commission of the Houses of the Oireachtas may enter into such contracts as are necessary to establish and maintain the Houses of the Oireachtas Channel. Section 126 of the Act amends Schedule 1 of the Houses of the Oireachtas Commission Act 2003 to enable the Commission to fund the channel and to meet all expenses incurred in this respect.
