Vol. 399 No. 4
6 Mr. T. O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Communications if his attention has been drawn to the report prepared by Údarás na Gaeltachta on the feasibility of setting up Teilefís na Gaeltachta; if his Department have received a copy of the report, and if so, the date; if his Department had many meetings with the Department of the Gaeltacht on this matter; if so, the dates these took place; and the outcome.
22 Mr. McGinley asked the Minister for Communications if the Údarás na Gaeltachta report on Teilifís na Gaeltachta has been considered by his Department and RTE; if his Department are in favour of establishing an Irish language television service; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
I propose to take Questions Nos. 6 and 22 together.
The report in question was referred to my Department by Roinn na Gaeltachta on 5 February 1990. There were no meetings between my Department and Roinn na Gaeltachta on the matter. Both RTE and my Department have examined the technical and frequency management aspects of the proposal and communicated the results to Roinn na Gaeltachta on 15 May 1990. My Department were unable to take a position on whether they are in favour of the establishment of a Teilifís na Gaeltachta service as there are a range of policy considerations relating to what is in the best interests of promoting the Irish language which are outside their ambit.
Could I ask the Minister the nature of the recommendations sent by his Department to Roinn na Gaeltachta regarding the setting up of Teilifís na Gaeltachta? In his speech last night, the Minister adverted to some important reservations that his Department have regarding the setting up of the station. Would he inform the House what these reservations are?
As I have indicated, this is basically a question for Roinn na Gaeltachta and the question about setting up a service would be better referred to them.
I have not yet established to any degree of satisfaction whether the Minister is in favour of providing a service in Irish — namely, Teilifís na Gaeltachta — on a separate channel as recommended by RTE and Údarás na Gaeltachta. Is the Minister in favour of imposing an obligation on the cable systems and the MMDS franchise holders, using a "must carry" clause to make Teilifís na Gaeltachta available to its customers for two hours a day?
The question of two hours a day and a separate service is something to be considered for the future and I will take the Deputy's suggestion into consideration.
May I clarify one matter?
I must call the next question.
I will be very brief. The Minister has effectively side-stepped my question. I am asking if he is in favour, in principle, of the franchise holders broadcasting Irish programmes for two hours per day?
Yes.
