asked the Minister for Communications if he is in a position to grant licences to applicants for satellite receiving dishes; and if he has received such applications.
Ceisteanna — Questions. Oral Answers. - Satellite Receiving Dishes.
16.
The position regarding the licensing or otherwise of these dishes is under active consideration at present and I expect to be able to make an announcement in the matter in the near future. My Department have received a small number of applications for licences or other authorisations for these dishes.
Is the Minister aware of the demand for such dishes? Is it the intention of the Minister to allow the same position to develop in regard to the licensing of receiving dishes as prevails in regard to illegal radio stations? I understand that at the moment there are 60 illegal radio stations operating. There are many illegal receiving dishes throughout the country but the Minister is not prepared to introduce legislation to deal with them, if required, or grant licences to such people. Will the Minister tell the House how many people have applied for such licences? Is the Minister aware that when the satellite proposals are implemented such receiving dishes will be required?
People would be well advised not to purchase receiving dishes for a number of reasons. It is almost certain that local powered satellite services which are available and will become available in due course will not be receivable by these dishes unless decoding plant is rented with such dishes. People would be ill advised until this position is clarified to purchase such dishes. Secondly, it is not clear that such dishes will be usable when the direct broadcasting satellite comes about. It will depend on the form direct broadcasting systems take. It is my intention to make decisions on these matters in the near future. They cannot be decided in isolation and must be decided in the context of decisions on cable systems.
As there are numerous receiving dishes erected throughout the country the Minister will have to decide whether or not to legalise them. He has told us that such dishes are not legal at present but by his inactivity he is allowing this to continue. Legitimate business people and individuals are using such dishes having spent a considerable amount of money on them, but the Minister is delaying giving approval for such instruments. I cannot understand why the Minister is adopting this attitude. I do not accept the reasons he has put forward. It is not the Minister's problem whether the dishes are suitable or not but the concern of those who purchase them.
I have a responsibility to draw the attention of the public to the fact that they may be buying dishes that will not, after a short time, give them the reception they now receive. They may not be suitable for future services. I must point out that these issues have been examined closely. We set up a cable systems committee and invited submissions last year. That committee issued a report and arising from that, and the submissions received, we are addressing the multitude of issues that arise. Some of them are very complex and technical.
Will legislation be required?
The likelihood is that legislation will not be necessary in the first instance.