Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Thursday, 2 Apr 1998

Vol. 489 No. 5

Written Answers. - Television Services.

Ivan Yates

Ceist:

11 Mr. Yates asked the Minister for Public Enterprise if her attention has been drawn to the recent report, The Future of Television Services in Ireland, commissioned by the Director of Telecommunications Regulation; the proposal, if any, she has to meet or discuss with the regulator as to the timeframe of legislation to consider the question of the provision of interim analogue broadcasting licences in order to legalise community deflectors; and the consideration, if any, the Government has given to this matter in 1998 at a policy level prior to the introduction of digitalisation. [8312/98]

Minister for Public Enterprise (Mrs. O'Rourke)

My Department is, at present, examining the report referred to by the Deputy.

The Director presented me with a copy of the report during a recent courtesy call to my office. The report examines the issue of the future delivery of television services in Ireland generally. The report, therefore, is primarily about the introduction of digital services and only deals with deflector systems in this context. It will provide input into the director's decision-making on the question of licensing deflector systems.

In this regard, and as the Deputy is well aware, the legal power to issue licences to operators of television re-broadcasting systems, including deflectors, was transferred to the director with effect from 30 June 1997. In the event that the director determines that new licences should be issued, it will be necessary for her to make regulations prescribing the form and content of such licences in accordance with the Wireless Telegraphy Act, 1926. Such regulations will then be subject to my consent.

I will be in a position to give consideration to the policy implications involved only if and when specific proposals are received from the director in the matter. I also plan to have discussions with the director in due course in relation to her views both on the licensing of deflector services and on the introduction of digital television services.