asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs if he will consider an arrangement whereby UTV and BBC (Northern Ireland) broadcasts are boosted throughout the State in return for the boosting of RTE broadcasts throughout Northern Ireland, as a means of promoting the understanding the Government seeks between people on both sides of the Border.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - TV Broadcast Boosting.
70.
In order to boost or relay UTV and BBC (Northern Ireland) broadcasts to give satisfactory reception throughout the State, we would need to establish at least two additional television transmission networks here, three if we were to relay both BBC 1 and BBC 2. To ensure satisfactory reception of RTE television programmes in Northern Ireland, an additional television transmission network would be required there also. On cost and other considerations, we could not seriously propose such an arrangement.
Does the Minister not think that money might be better spent on this type of exercise than it would on the introduction of coloured television——
That is a separate question.
——in order to give a choice of programmes to people who have paid for a licence?
Could some of the cost not be defrayed by getting commercial television in Britain to subscribe to the cost because they would get greater coverage for their advertisements if this were done?
According to my information, the costs would be very, very heavy.
How much?
Several million pounds.
Would the Minister not agree that an exercise of this nature would have the effect of promoting understanding on both sides of the Border, which is the stated policy of the Taoiseach and as a result the money might be well spent?
I agree we would benefit by arranging for RTE reception throughout the Six Counties, but there would be an offsetting factor to take into consideration, which is the effect that two or three British programmes to our one would have on our viewers.
Has the Minister any specific objection to doing this?
To doing what?
As the question asks.
The question has been answered.
Would the Deputy like me to repeat the answer?
No. Has the Minister personally or officially any objection to doing what Deputy Bruton is asking?
I shall repeat part of my answer, a Leas-Cheann Comhairle: "On cost and other considerations, we could not seriously propose such an arrangement."
Further arising from the Minister's reply, UTV is an independent television authority and if it wishes to do free of cost to the Minister's Department what Deputy Bruton is suggesting, would the Minister give official sanction to it?
That would have to be looked at very carefully, because we would also have to examine the effect this would have on the advertising revenue which RTE receives.
The Minister is putting matter before understanding.
If the Minister was given a guarantee or some undertaking that RTE was to be promoted north of the Border, would he give official sanction to that?
At this stage I could not say whether or not I could give it official sanction, but I would certainly give it every consideration.
Where does the Minister get the figure of £7 million from?
I said "several million pounds".