asked the Minister for Communications if Cork multi-channel TV have applied for a licence to operate a seventh TV channel in the Cork area; if the application has been granted; if so, the conditions, if any, that have been applied to the licence; if the statutory obligation to balance in news and current affairs programmes that applies to RTE will also be applied to any broadcasts by Cork multi-channel TV; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Written Answers. - Cork Multi-Channel TV.
71.
On application from the Cork Communications Limited, the licensed cable operator in Cork city, I have amended the company's wired broadcast relay licence to allow the relay, on an experimental basis, of a local programme service over the cable system. The service was initiated in December 1984 and the authority has been renewed from time to time since, subject to the following conditions:
(a) 1½ hours programming per week with an omnibus repeat at the weekend;
(b) the licensee is responsible for ensuring that
(i) nothing in the transmissions will infringe section 18 (1) of the Broadcasting Authority Act, 1960, as amended by section 3 of the Broadcasting Authority (Amendment) Act, 1976, in relation to objectivity, impartiality, incitement to crime or invasion of privacy;
(ii) nothing in the transmissions will infringe the statutory order in force under section 31 of the Broadcasting Authority Acts, 1960-1979;
(iii) nothing in the programme service could be construed as being of a party political nature;
(c) the channel frequency used must be one of those authorised for use on the cable system in Cork.