Noel Dempsey (Meath, Fianna Fail)

Following the regional radio conference in 2006, spectrum usage will now be bound by international agreements and DTT spillover will be less likely, so we cannot rely on it as a method of providing television services to Irish households into the future. With the advent of the national DTT roll-out, it is likely that UK television services will be offered on the DTT platforms. In addition, households will continue to have a choice between satellite, cable or MMDS offerings.

Deputies Eamon Ryan and Crowe raised the possibility of agreements North and South and east and west in regard to stations on a platform. I understand this is a matter RTE will pursue and it is certainly a matter the Government would support into the future.

Deputy Crowe raised the question of whether this is an all-island Bill and whether it applied North and South. He did not see anything in the Bill that indicated we were talking in those terms. However, under the Good Friday Agreement, we are committed to providing RTE and TG4 services on an all-island basis, which is covered. We already have a transmitter outside Belfast for TG4.

I thank the Deputies for their contribution to the debate. I look forward to moving quickly to Committee Stage and to dealing with and finalising the Bill.

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