asked the Minister for Communications whether the Government are prepared to recommend that Cablelink, a subsidiary of RTE, carry as a matter of policy the French language channel TV5 in the Dublin area, in order to facilitate access to the foreign language channel of Irish viewers with a view to assisting the improvement and development of our knowledge of French; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Written Answers. - French Language TV Channel.
72.
I have said before in replies to similar questions that I would like to see foreign language service on Cablelink. Cablelink are aware of my views on this matter and I am pursuing it with them. However, at the present time, apart from RTE 1 and RTE 2, Cablelink are not obliged to carry any other television service and it is a matter for the company to decide the services it wishes to provide and to seek my approval for them.