Vol. 317 No. 9
asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs if a survey has been conducted as to the number of people (i) in the Dublin area and (ii) the remainder of the country using the citizens' band radio, if not, if any estimate exists of the number using this radio in the country or if he intends to carry out such a survey.
268.
asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs if his attention has been drawn to the extensive use of the citizens' band radio system at a frequency of 27MHz on the 11 Metre Band in both Europe and America and the attitude of his Department to the use of this radio in Ireland.
269.
asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs if he will make a full statement outlining his views on the present legal position and the overall approach of his Department on the use of the citizens' band radio system in Ireland.
With the permission of the Ceann Comhairle, I propose to answer Questions Nos. 267, 268 and 269 together.
Under the Wireless Telegraphy Act, 1926, anyone who has in his possession or uses wireless telegraphy apparatus without an appropriate licence from the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs is committing an offence. Citizens' band radio equipment is wireless telegraphy apparatus and in general operates in the 27 Megahertz band which is already reserved in this country for such purposes as paging systems, and industrial, scientific and medical equipment. The use of citizens' band equipment on such frequencies can also cause serious interference with radio and television reception. For these reasons licences are not issued in respect of the use of this equipment and persons, including radio dealers, who hold or use it render themselves liable to prosecution.
No reliable estimate is available of the number of persons using the equipment illegally in this country. A survey for this purpose is not proposed. I am, of course, aware that citizens' band radio equipment is in use in a number of European countries and in America.
