Eamon Ryan (Dublin South, Green Party)

Part 8 of the Broadcasting Act 2009 provides for the development of digital terrestrial television, DTT, in Ireland and for the closure of the national analogue TV network. In addition, the 2009 Act requires the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland, BAI, to provide for the development of commercial digital terrestrial television services.

As the Deputy is aware a competition for a commercial DTT service provider was initiated by the Broadcasting Commission of Ireland in 2008. Three applicants were shortlisted. In July 2008, the BCI announced its intention to enter into negotiations with Boxer DTT Limited, the highest placed consortium. Boxer withdrew from the process in April 2009. As a result, negotiations commenced with the next placed bidder, the OneVision consortium.

In April 2010, BAI withdrew the contract offer from OneVision as that consortium was unable to reach agreement with the network operator, RTÉNL for the provision of transmission services. Following this, the BAI offered the contract to the third place consortium, Easy TV in May but, as the Deputy is aware, that consortium declined the offer.

I regret that the BAI process did not result in a commercial DTT operator as it would have delivered additional consumer choice. As a result of the outcome of the BAI's commercial DTT process, I am in detailed discussions with the BAI, ComReg and RTE to consider the broadcasting, telecommunications and spectrum policy issues that arise. Meanwhile, it is important to note that commercial DTT is not essential to provide for analogue switch-off. It is the transition from free-to-air analogue to free-to-air digital that will yield the digital dividend. RTE's plans for the national DTT service are advancing.

In this regard, I signed an order, SI 85 of 2010, under section 129 of the Broadcasting Act 2009 requiring RTE to launch its DTT service to approximately 90% of the population by 31 October 2010. RTE advises me that it is on target to meet this date. The 2009 Act also requires RTE to provide the full national digital service by the end of 2011 or such date as I may specify. I have informed RTE that the date for the provision of a full national digital terrestrial television service is 31 December 2011. In conjunction with this, the memorandum of understanding I signed earlier this year with the United Kingdom will facilitate co-ordination around the roll-out of digital terrestrial television and analogue switch-off with Northern Ireland.

I would like to set out clearly today that we will be switching off our analogue system in the final quarter of 2012. I look forward to that event and the ability it gives us to get other broadband services and other service up and running, in particular across rural Ireland.

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