Eamon Ryan (Dublin South, Green Party)

-----and I said to each of the parties directly and clearly that, come what may, that deadline will be met. We will switch off our analogue services. In terms of the ongoing commercial negotiations between OneVision and RTE, it is the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland which will ultimately set the deadlines on that process. That, under the legislation, is what its authority is and it would be wrong for a Minister to step into the middle of a commercial negotiation process and start subverting the BAI's role in that regard. I have given clear indications here and elsewhere to everyone involved that there is time urgency with this issue and that it is in everyone's interest, if we are in such negotiations, to conclude them quickly. I will not step into the middle of commercial negotiations because that would be counterproductive and improper.

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