Noel Dempsey (Meath, Fianna Fail)

My core policy objectives for the development of the broadcasting sector including RTE are detailed in my Department's Statement of Strategy 2005-2007.

These objectives are to create an environment that encourages the maintenance of high quality Irish radio and television services by commercial, community and public service broadcasters; to seek to retain access to a range of high quality programming in analogue and digital form, on a universal and free-to-air basis; and to secure a viable future for high quality public service broadcasting.

My key priorities for achieving these objectives include developing the regulatory framework by bringing forward a Bill to provide for the establishment of a single content regulator for both public and private broadcasters and the restructuring of RTE from a corporate point of view, ensuring adequate public funding for RTE and TG4 so they can deliver on their statutory mandate, building on progress made in maximising the effectiveness of television licence fee collection and facilitating the successful establishment of a digital terrestrial television platform on a pilot basis in 2006.

The purpose of the digital terrestrial television pilot is to help inform my decision on the roll out of DTT and the transition to digital broadcasting. In addition, the pilot will generate awareness and discussion among interested parties about a full national roll out of digital terrestrial television.

A number of the issues raised by the Deputy, including the public service broadcasting remit of RTE and the operation of the television licence regime, are currently being considered in the context of the development of the legislative proposals that will form the basis of the forthcoming broadcasting Bill.

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