asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs the progress being made in regard to his examination of the issue of licences to individuals to rebroadcast British television signals in rural areas in the west of Ireland.
Written Answers. - TV Broadcasting Licences.
672.
The examination carried out has confirmed that rebroadcasting, if authorised, would be feasible only in quite limited circumstances if the interests of other authorised users of the radio frequency spectrum are to be adequately protected. As indicated in a statement issued by my predecessor on 5 November 1982, before any licences could be issued it would be necessary for applicants to produce satisfactory evidence that copy-right agreements had been obtained from the broadcasting authorities concerned. Unlicensed systems are liable to seizure and their operators are liable to prosecution.