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Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Thursday, 3 Dec 1998

Vol. 497 No. 7

Written Answers - Broadcasting Regulation.

Michael D. Higgins

Ceist:

163 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands if she will make a statement on the regulatory regime she favours for indigenous and community programme services as per her statement to the Joint Committee on Heritage and the Irish Language on 29 September 1998; and the way in which this policy is facilitated or hindered by the fact that the issue of technical licences for digital services across all platforms is a matter for the Director of Telecommunications Regulation rather than the proposed broadcasting regulator. [26250/98]

As indicated in my statement to the committee, the role and function of the Independent Radio and Television Commission will be expanded. The new body will have the function of setting standards for broadcasting content and advertising. Any indigenous provider of broadcast content will have to obtain authorisation from the broadcasting regulator. The regulatory mechanism envisaged is a system of contracts between the expanded Independent Radio and Television Commission and the content providers. Platform operators will be free to carry the services provided by those who have obtained content provider contracts and will be prohibited from carrying the services of an indigenous content provider where no contract is in place.

For the purposes of clarity, I should say that this regime will not apply to the free to air services of RTE, Teilifís na Gaeilge or TV3. These services will continue to operate under the terms of existing legislation in the case of RTE and TV3 and the provisions relating to Teilifís na Gaeilge which will be included in the forthcoming legislation.

I see no difficulty arising from the situation whereby the Director of Telecommunications Regulation will remain responsible for the issue of technical licences for all delivery platforms.

Michael D. Higgins

Ceist:

164 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands if agreement has been reached for reciprocal access for broadcasters north and south to digital terrestrial television capacity; the broadcasters she had in mind when she spoke to the Joint Committee on Heritage and the Irish Language on 29 September 1998; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26251/98]

No agreements are in place with regard to reciprocal arrangements for access. The proposed broadcasting legislation will provide a statutory structure whereby, if the expanded Independent Radio and Television Commission is satisfied that satisfactory reciprocal arrangements are in place for the carriage of RTÉ, Teilifís na Gaeilge and TV3 in Northern Ireland, DTT capacity for Northern Ireland broadcasters can be guaranteed on this side of the border. I have in mind that terrestrial Northern Ireland broadcasters that have been traditionally available here will be embraced by these provisions. Before such arrangements could be put in place, a considerable amount of discussion will have to take place with and between broadcasters and between my Department and the British Department of Culture, Media and Sport. If the British wish to proceed with this issue it may be necessary for them to make legislative provisions for it.

I should say, of course, that nothing in the proposed legislation will prevent the carriage of Northern Ireland broadcasters on digital platforms here whether reciprocal arrangements are in place or not.

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