asked the Minister for Communication if he is aware of dissatisfaction among consumers at the failure of certain cable television companies to provide an adequate service in the area or areas for which they have a mandate; and if, in view of the monopoly situation on an area to area basis, he will take steps to arrange an appropriate complaints procedure so that consumers and residents can pursue defaulting companies.
Ceisteanna—Questions Oral Answers - Cable Television Service.
23.
I am not aware of any general dissatisfaction such as mentioned by the Deputy.
Cable television systems are required to be licensed under the Wireless Telegraphy (Wired Broadcast Relay Licence) Regulations, 1974, which set out the conditions to be complied with, including technical conditions. These conditions are designed to ensure that the quality of television signals received at the masthead are not downgraded while being relayed to the subscribers' premises, that interference is not caused to other radio equipment and that the system complies with safety requirements.
The terms under which service is provided by a cable television company to any individual subscriber are contractual matters between the subscriber and the company concerned and I do not see a need for any special complaints procedure.
First I would make the Minister aware that there is a problem and that it arises in the Dublin area particularly. Secondly, in view of the monopoly enjoyed by RTE and, through them, Dublin Cable Systems, which they have taken over recently, and since users do not have the opportunity of taking a service from another company, would the Minister not consider it appropriate that arrangements be made for a complaints procedure to deal with the cases of consumers who are being treated shabbily in some cases? RTE Relays have a monopoly on foot of the authority of this House.
I will consider the point raised but I am not aware of general dissatisfaction with the service. I am aware of individual complaints. I have received some such complaints in my constituency.
May I take it the Minister has not been made aware at any stage of a licence being withdrawn from any unsatisfactory supplier of communal television and could he indicate what steps the Department take before extending a licence to a supplier of communal television so as to ensure that the applicant is in a position to provide the extended service? Some of these services are not adequate.
When an application is received for an extension beyond the franchise area for which a licence is held an investigation is carried out by the radio broadcasting branch of the Department at technical and administrative level. The general suitability of the applicant in terms of past performance and so on is taken into account. Normally an extension of a franchise area would not necessarily be advertised unlike an application for the franchise in a new area which would be advertised.
I am happy that the Minister will consider the matter and I trust he will find it possible to report progress to the House. Is he aware that many users in the Dublin area are treated unfairly in cases where a subscriber fails to pay the relay charge. In such cases neighbours can be punished and do not have any recourse because of the monopoly situation? Does that sort of situation not necessitate the facility of recourse to some court of appeal?
For some time I have been very conscious of a number of problems in the cable area but I am aware also of opportunities that may be arising. Following on the report of the satellite committee set up by my predecessor, Deputy Wilson, I set up, almost immediately, in accordance with one of the recommendations of that committee, a committee on the cable systems and they have now reported to me. In the coming weeks that report will be published by way of a discussion document. I think it will answer some of the questions being raised by the Deputy, but the report will be debated before we arrive at new policy decisions.
I am sure the Minister realises that a number of cable television companies are in great financial difficulty, that some such companies have been put into receivership recently. In view of the high cost of cabling television and since there have been major technological advances — the fact, for instance, that it is hoped to have international television by satellite within a few years — can the Minister indicate his attitude to legalising television by deflection?
That is very much a separate question.
It is referring to the same situation.
It might solve some problem but it is a different question.
It is causing a lot of problems for relay companies. The activity is illegal.
Will the Minister consider the matter?
We have considered it but there are international issues involved. There would be involved, for instance, the negotiating of the copyright abroad and then we would have to begin paying for it so there are real difficulties involved in that respect.
Is this matter being investigated by the committee set up to consider the question of cable systems?
As I have said, the committee have reported to me and I hope to be in a position to publish their report within the next couple of weeks. Deputies will then have an opportunity to debate the subject. I will be inviting comment and submissions on the report before we arrive at policy conclusions. The question raised by Deputy Treacy is interesting but it relates to a very difficult area. The illegal deflectors are causing enormous difficulty for legal and franchised cable systems. For instance, the illegal deflector system operating in Galway was one of the contributing factors to the recent receivership in Galway and I shall have to take action against them as well as against others.