26 MFómh 2012, 12:35
The Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport and Communications will tomorrow meet with the Minister for Communications Pat Rabbitte TD for an update on the digital television switchover, scheduled for 24 October.
26 September 2012
The Committee will also hear from Mary Curtis, Director of Digital Switchover and Michael Keogh of RTÉNL, RTÉ's transmission and network subsidiary.
Chairman of the Committee Tom Hayes TD says: “Next month, Ireland moves from analogue to digital television, considered to be the biggest change in transmission since the introduction of colour TV. With the analogue signals being switched off in less than thirty days’ time, it is therefore timely to invite the Minister and officials leading the digital switchover to update our Committee on the current position on the introduction of Saorview.
“While awareness levels are high of the forthcoming switchover within the general population, the most recent figures indicate that there are still 200,000 homes still on the analogue system and will completely lose their television services on October 24. There is evidence that many in that category are older, living in rural areas, and often in lone households. Furthermore, while Saorview offers 98 percent coverage of the population, some areas of the country have always been impossible to reach via a terrestrial network. The remaining two percent of homes will need to either install a new satellite dish or modify and re-align an existing dish.
\"The Committee looks forward to a constructive discussion tomorrow, with a particular focus on minimising the numbers who will lose television services after the switchover on 24 October.\"
The meeting tomorrow will commence with a session with Chairmen Designates of New Ross Port and Galway Harbour companies, Ray Lawlor and Paul Carey respectively.
Deputy Hayes continues: “Under the Programme for Government, those who are being proposed for appointment as chairpersons of State boards are required to make themselves available to the appropriate Oireachtas Committee.
“The McCarthy Report recommends that New Ross Port Company merge with a larger port and possibly discontinue its activities. Meanwhile, the Galway Harbour Company has published ambitious plans for a redeveloped Port of Galway. The meeting tomorrow with Ray Lawlor and Paul Carey will allow the Committee discuss the current challenges and opportunities facing both historic ports.
“Following the discussion tomorrow, a transcript of the meeting will be forwarded for consideration by the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources Pat Rabbitte TD.”
The meeting takes place tomorrow Thursday, 27 of September 2012, at 10.00 a.m. in Committee Room 4, Leinster House 2000. It is expected that the engagement on Saorview will commence at approximately 11:30 a.m. The segment of the meeting devoted to Soarview will be broadcast on Oireachtas UPC channel 207.
Committee proceedings can also be viewed online via this link.
ENDS
For further information please contact:
Paul Hand,
Houses of the Oireachtas,
Communications Unit,
Leinster House,
Dublin 2
P: +353 1 618 4484
M: +353 87 694 9926
Committee Membership
Deputies
Timmy Dooley, Fianna Fáil
Dessie Ellis, Sinn Féin
Martin Ferris, Sinn Féin
Terence Flanagan, Fine Gael
Tom Fleming, Independent
Noel Harrington, Fine Gael
Tom Hayes, Fine Gael (Chairman)
Colm Keaveney, Fine Gael
Seán Kenny, Labour
Mattie McGrath, Independent
Michael Moynihan, Fianna Fáil
Patrick O’Donovan, Fine Gael
John O’Mahony, Fine Gael (Vice-Chairman)
Ann Phelan, Labour
Brian Walsh, Fine Gael
Senators
Terry Brennan
Sean D. Barrett
Eamonn Coghlan
Paschal Mooney
Ned O’Sullivan
John Whelan