Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)

Since the Minister is taking two priority questions together I hope there will be real engagement on the issue rather than simply statements from both sides. My party strongly supports DTT and we support the Government in its roll-out of DTT, including commercial DTT and free-to-air channels. To give the impression that the pull-out by the Boxer consortium has caused nothing more than a need for the BCI to move on to the next best bidder, namely, One Vision, and to proceed as if there is no problem is totally misrepresenting the situation.

According to its own targets, the Boxer consortium was due to roll out digital terrestrial television before this summer. It has pulled out of a 12 year contract and the BCI is now undertaking negotiations with the next best bidder, One Vision. People must know the position. One Vision is made up of Setanta Ireland, Eircom and TV3, all good companies, but all of which are under severe financial pressure at present. Does the Minister have confidence in the process? Does he believe One Vision can now do what he expected Boxer to do considering the financing required for rolling out three multiplexes, or, will there be legal motions or a legal requirement to go to the next best bidder through the BCI? Is this a realistic attempt to roll out commercial DTT through BCI negotiations with One Vision or are we simply going through the motions? Will we be starting again in several months' time?

My second question is specific and was not referred to by the Minister, although he should have done so. What has taken place with Boxer has put Ireland under significant pressure. Is is not true to say RTE has already spent the majority of the money it intends rolling out DTT infrastructure already? It has spent €40 million to date and it anticipates that at least a further €60 million is required to provide DTT coverage throughout the country. Will the Minister insist on RTE having three or four channels free-to-air on DTT by the end of the year in the absence of a commercial operator? If he does so, would it make life financially impossible for RTE?

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