Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Wednesday, 31 Mar 1999

Vol. 503 No. 1

Written Answers. - Television Reception.

Gay Mitchell

Ceist:

55 Mr. G. Mitchell asked the Minister for Public Enterprise the contact, if any, between the Director of Telecommunications Regulation and her Department in relation to the introduction of interim licensing arrangements for television deflector groups; if the consultation process will be expedited in order that householders will have access to multichannel television prior to digitalisation; if she has ascertained from the regulator if a time period has been set out for these regulations; if she will assent to these; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8642/99]

Minister for Public Enterprise (Mrs. O'Rourke)

As the Deputy will be aware, licensing of television rebroadcasting systems is a matter, in the first instance, for the Director of Telecommunications Regulation.

The director has indicated that a consultation process will shortly take place on issues surrounding the possible licensing of deflector systems. The Deputy will appreciate that, given the independence of the director in the exercise of her functions, it would be inappropriate for me to intervene in relation to the timing and duration or, indeed, any element of that process.

In the event that the director proposes draft regulations in relation to the licensing of deflector systems, I will give them appropriate consider ation. As yet, no such proposals have been made to me.