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Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 12 Mar 1996

Vol. 462 No. 8

Written Answers. - Deflector Television Systems.

Declan Bree

Ceist:

265 Mr. Bree asked the Minister for Transport, Energy and Communications the number of applications for licences to operate deflector television systems that have been received by his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5736/96]

Declan Bree

Ceist:

266 Mr. Bree asked the Minister for Transport, Energy and Communications if, following the Judge Keane judgment of 10 November 1995, his Department communicated with all the groups who were previously refused licences to operate deflector television systems; if it is the intention of his Department to write to all such groups in the near future; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5737/96]

I propose to take Questions Nos. 265 and 266 together. The Deputy will appreciate that over the years my Department would have received numerous requests, applications and general inquiries about the licensing of TV re-transmission systems.

I can say that since the commencement of proceedings against me in 1994 in the case referred to by the Deputy I have received about a dozen inquiries regarding licences for this type of system in different parts of the country. All these have been either responded to or will be responded to shortly.

My position following the court judgment in that case is that I must consider anew the application by Southcoast for a licence to provide their services in the UHF band. It is important to note that the court judgment in this regard was in respect of the plaintiff company only. I will have to consider the implications for other parts of the country as part of this process.
Pending the outcome of that assessment there are no plans to issue any licences to operate within the UHF band and, therefore, I do not see any useful purpose being served by communicating again with anyone who might previously have sought permission to operate in the band.
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