Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Thursday, 25 Jul 1996

Vol. 468 No. 4

Written Answers. - Television Reception.

Seamus Brennan

Ceist:

53 Mr. S. Brennan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will have arrangements made to have the question of greater access to RTÉ services in Northern Ireland discussed at the Anglo-Irish Conference; the other steps, if any, he intends to take to ensure urgent progress in this regard; if his attention has been drawn to the efforts of a company (details supplied) in this respect; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15790/96]

Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs (Mr. Spring)

The issue of greater access to RTE services in Northern Ireland is one on which the Government places particular importance. I have no doubt greater availability of RTE television throughout Northern Ireland would be instrumental not only in creating better understanding between North and South but also in promoting greater understanding between the two main traditions in Northern Ireland. Our objective of greater access to RTE television in Northern Ireland is shared by the British Government.

This issue was first considered by the Anglo-Irish Intergovernmental Conference in July 1993 and has been a regular item on the conference agenda since then, most recently on 22 May this year.

A bilateral broadcasting group comprising officials and technical experts was set up by the Anglo-Irish Intergovernmental Conference in January 1994, to examine the issue of RTE reception in Northern Ireland. That group identified that the most significant improvement in the short-term could be achieved by increasing the power northwards from the RTE transmitter at Clermont Carn in County Louth. The British side were concerned that the increase in power could have an adverse effect on the reception of its local services in Northern Ireland.

Representatives of the two relevant regulatory agencies, the Department of Transport, Energy and Communications in Dublin and the Radio Communication Agency in London, have had a series of meetings to discuss ways of overcoming any problems of interference which could arise from an increased power output from Clermont Carn. I understand that a joint technical report on how to meet these concerns has been agreed at official level and that political agreement to a phased implementation of the proposed changes to the transmitter at Clermont Carn is now awaited.

At its most recent meeting on 22 May 1996, the Anglo-Irish Intergovernmental Conference noted the significant progress which has been made in the work it commissioned on ways of improving RTE reception in Northern Ireland and looked forward to a full discussion of this subject at a further date.

As regards the question of RTE being carried on cable services in Northern Ireland, I am aware of the company to which the Deputy refers. From the details supplied by the Deputy, the company appears to be in the process of negotiations with the rights holders concerned. While I welcome the company's proposals to include RTE television and radio services on its Northern network, the negotiations are, of course, a matter between the company and the rights holders.