Enda Kenny
Ceist:3 D'fhiafraigh Mr. Kenny den Aire Ealaíon, Oidhreachta, Gaeltachta agus Oileán an ndéanfaidh sí ráiteas i leith stádas neamhspleách a thabhairt do Teilifís na Gaeilge mar atá luaite sa chlár Rialtais. [14695/98]
Ceisteanna — Questions. Priority Questions. - Broadcasting Legislation.
Michael D. Higgins
Ceist:4 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands the legislation, if any, she will introduce to enable a broadcasting regulator to be appointed; when this appointment will be made; if an appointment will precede the publication of an action plan on the European Commission Green Paper on Convergence; and her views on the Green Paper. [14683/98]
Tógfaidh mé Ceisteanna Uimh. 3 agus 4 le chéile.
As both these questions refer to matters which would require new broadcasting legislation, I refer the Deputies to my replies to Question No. 260 on 6 May 1998 and Questions Nos. 72 and 78 on 7 May 1998. As I indicated in my replies to these questions, I am at present formulating proposals for comprehensive broadcasting legislation, dealing with the introduction of digital broadcasting and the establishment of Teilifís na Gaeilge as a separate statutory entity, which I hope to bring to Government soon. I have recently circulated a draft memorandum for Government to other Ministers for their observations as part of the normal consultative process in bringing legislative proposals to Government.
The Green Paper on Convergence is a consultative document issued by the European Commission. Any action which might arise out of the consultation process will be subject to the usual formalities associated with EU measures. My primary concern in this area is to ensure that the concept of public service broadcasting with its associated elements of universal access and the provision of services which cater to a wide audience is respected and taken into account in any deliberations on this matter. The Minister for Public Enterprise has given the Government's response to the Green Paper and I am satisfied that the response reflects these concerns.
An bhfuil sí ag tabhairt geallúint anseo don Dáil go mbeidh stádas neamhspleach ag TnaG i mbliana nó an chéad bhliain eile? Ó thaobh fostaíochta de tá's aici go ndéantar beagnach gach clár a chuirtear ar TnaG anseo in Éirinn. So tá jobanna á gcur ar fáil agus maidir leis na cláracha idirnáisiúnta a thugtar isteach bíonn córas aistriúcháin i gceist agus postanna á gcur ar fáil ansin chomh maith. Tá iarratas curtha isteach ag TnaG chuici chun £3m eile a fháil an chéad bhliain eile. An bhfuil sí in ann a rá go mbeidh an t-airgead sin le fáil ag TnaG ionas go mbeidh siad in ann an job a dhéanamh mar ba chóir?
Cathain a bheidh lucht féachana TnaG in ann féachaint ar an chóras teilifíse i dTuaisceart Éireann agus i ngach contae sna Sé Chontae Fiche?
I will answer the questions in reverse. As to ensuring that people in the North have an opportunity to see TnaG, it is hoped that there will be an approved mechanism to make RTE 1, Network 2, TnaG and, at a later stage, TV3 accessible to as many people in the Six Counties as possible. That issue has been discussed for about 20 years by the British and Irish Governments and I am told those discussions are coming to fruition. When that happens it should enable immediate transmission. We must also remember the onset of digital broadcasting. These issues are covered by the British-Irish Agreement and it should enable access not only to Teilifís na Gaeilge, which would be of interest to many on both sides of the political divide, but also RTE 1 and Network 2.
As to the provision of extra money, the legislation will be put in place and I am considering what can be done within the Estimates for TnaG. Teilifís na Gaeilge was always very much supported by Fianna Fáil and by members of this Government. Deputy Higgins referred to the all-party agreement with regard to Teilifís na Gaeilge and recognised any support and help that was forthcoming from Fianna Fáil and others in this regard. It was the intention of both Governments involved in the decision to establish Teilifís na Gaeilge as a national Irish language television service to give it a separate statutory entity. In doing so both the RTE authority and Teilifís na Gaeilge are of the view that the separation would take place after a number of years, in order to allow the station to consolidate its position. There is certainly a happy marriage at the moment between Teilifís na Gaeilge and RTE. We all recognise that Teilifís na Gaeilge is a tremendous asset and an extremely professional organisation. Although it will be a separate entity statutorily, the reality of the provision of services by RTE still exists. The question of giving an independent statutory entity to Teilifís na Gaeilge will be referred to in my broadcasting legislation which will be published at the end of this year and is part of the proposals I am putting forward this month. To allay fears, it is not a question of hiving off Teilifís na Gaeilge and hoping it will sail alone. The mechanisms that were put in place to establish Teilifís na Gaeilge are working well. RTE has a very important role to play and understands and appreciates its commitment to Teilifís na Gaeilge.
Do the Minister's proposals include the establishment of an independent broadcasting regulator?
Digital broadcasting is of immense importance and needs to be addressed urgently. It will be very much part of the proposals I am putting forward to Government within the next two weeks. There will have to be legislation to put the appropriate structures in place. I am sure the Deputy does not expect me to go into the minutiae of the legislation at this stage. However, I can assure him that these points have been well thought out by me. I have strong views on the kind of structure that should be put in place. At this stage that is as much as I can do to answer the Deputy's question.
The issue is simple. Will there be a regulator or not? In answer to a previous question, the Minister said the Government responded to the Green Paper on convergence of telecommunications. It did so on 11 May. The Minister mentioned that it was responded to on behalf of Ireland by the Minister for Public Enterprise. I have a copy of that which the Tánaiste sent to me and there are many aspects which cut across broadcasting interests. There is a regulator, Ms Etain Doyle to whom some functions were transferred under the 1988 Act. Will there be a broadcasting regulator? I am not interested in the detail of how it will be done. I am asking whether or not there will be a broadcasting regulator?
There will be a legislative structure to deal with that. I hope the Deputy will have patience. It is not done to go into the legislation until it is published. I am putting my views forward to Government first, which is the proper procedure, and the Government will decide when the legislation will be published in the usual way. I can, however, assure the Deputy that in looking at the whole question of broadcasting, the concept of public service broadcasting is a most essential element, as is the question of universal access. Those are two basic principles in considering any proposals for legislation.
I have no difficulty with the two principles. Unfortunately the issue is that the reply by the Government on 11 May from the Department of Public Enterprise prejudices the case. I share the Minister's views on universal access and I welcome them. However, we will be left with a talking shop in relation to convergence of content when the field has been occupied by those who are introducing services on the telecommunications side. I have no party difference with the Minister or with the Ceann Comhairle. I am expressing my concern that the horse is being allowed to escape. That is why I do not want the detail of the legislation. I want an answer to my question. Will the broadcasting interests be represented by a broadcasting regulator, in whatever form the Minister may wish to keep secret, or will there be a vacuum in which the other side continues to practise while we do nothing?
There will be no such vacuum. It is important to realise the difference between the responsibilities of the Department of Public Enterprise and the Department of Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands. My Department is responsible for content but the technological side will be the responsibility of the Minister for Public Enterprise. A letter which the Minister for Public Enterprise sent to Deputy Higgins outlined that she would be responsible for the technological side and that I had specific responsibility for broadcasting and for content, and that I was drawing up proposals.