Vol. 399 No. 4
10 Mr. Quinn asked the Minister for Communications if, in the case of the dispute between Century Radio and RTE over non-payment for facilities already used, he proposes to exercise his powers to intervene; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Apart from the hypothetical nature of the question raised I would point out that I have no statutory power to intervene in a dispute between Century and RTE. A breach of any contractual arrangements between the two would be a matter for the aggrieved party to pursue in the normal way.
That reply must be the greatest understatement of all times. The events of yesterday proved beyond doubt that the Minister can intervene and he has intervened. Do I now take it from his reply that he will top up the £3 million which he gave to Century yesterday by writing off the outstanding debts for services already rendered by RTE to that station?
First, it was the Deputy himself last night in the course of his contribution who suggested that a loan of over £2 million would be given to Century Radio. I have made no such suggestion. What is suggested is that the whole independent radio and television areas will be the subject of the receipt of a sum of money through the independent radio and television commission. That money will be disbursed under criteria to be decided on by the commission and published by the commission and will be totally independent and away from Government, as is the commission. There is no suggestion in what I announced last night that Century or any other station will be in receipt of any particular sum of money. That is a matter for the IRTC; not Deputy O'Sullivan's proposal that a particular amount of money should be loaned to a particular company.
Would the Minister define and maybe elaborate on what he sees as independent? What we suggested last night was a loan which would be fully recovered and the State would be reimbursed. Let him not mislead the House, as he is attempting to do now.
I merely quoted what the Deputy said, that the £2 million——
He is misleading the House. Let him give it in full. The record of the House is there.
Fine. Let the record stand——
The record stands.
——that the £2 million would be given in a loan by this State to a particular company. I would not agree with that. I believe the right and proper way is——
Give a grant.
——that, as this House has set forward public service criteria which the independent sector must meet, a small proportion of the licence fee which is collected on a national basis to fund public service broadcasting should be given to the IRTC and the commission, will publish their criteria and decide which stations. There will be a national TV station, there is a national radio station and there are 18 independent local stations at the moment, and within the next couple of weeks that will be over 20. The commission will decide which companies will be assisted. I am not suggesting, nor would I suggest, that any particular company get a particular sum of money. That was a suggestion from the other side of the House, not from me.
Is the Minister not a bit ingenious saying he cannot intervene? Did he not already intervene in settling the contract price between Radio Telefís Éireann and Century by forcing it down towards Century's price? In the interest of fair play, will he not now see that that agreement is met? Will he not accept that he has a responsibility in this matter?
It is a matter between the parties concerned.
Going back to the Minister's reply to Deputy O'Sullivan with regard to what was or was not said in the House last night, in regard to the legislation that will be brought forward, to what extent is he been advised on its content by the IRTC?
Decisions in relation to legislation are a matter for the Minister and the Government of the day.
Who said that? To what extent has he been advised?
Question No. 11 please. I want to advise the House that we are not going to debate this matter now. There will doubtless be an opportunity for that.
I take the point that a decision in relation to legislation is a matter for Government. I was asking whether the Minister has consulted with or been advised by the commission on the content of the legislation. That needs a yes or no answer.
As Minister for Communications I have regular contact with the IRTC, as I have with RTE, BTE and An Post, the agencies that come under my responsibility.
In the context of this legislation, is it yes or no?
Will the Minister not accept that it was his own idea to have an alternative national radio service and an alternative national TV service, that no research was done in advance and that all the evidence and advice available to him were that it would not be viable? Will he not accept, therefore, that his own ill-considered intervention caused him to have to make the announcements he made yesterday?
No. 11 please.
Could I raise one brief question?
I have indicated to the House that I was proceeding to another question. If the Deputy intervenes I will facilitate him if he will be very brief.
In the context of his consultations with the IRTC and the RTE Authority, which he says he has regularly, can the Minister indicate what consultations he had with the RTE Authority or the Director-General of RTE in advance of announcing yesterday evening that he is in effect going to strip down his most successful 2 FM RTE radio station?
The Deputy is expanding the scope of this question out of all proportion.
Did the Minister consult in advance——
He is anticipating a debate before this House this evening.
