Pat Rabbitte (Dublin South West, Labour)

As the Deputy is aware, the remit and obligations of RTE, as an independent national public service broadcaster, are set out in the Broadcasting Act 2009. Section 114 of that Act sets out the principal objects and associated powers of RTE. Section 98 provides that it "shall be independent in the pursuance of its objects", subject to the requirements of the Act. Therefore, as Minister I have no function in RTE's general day-to-day operations, including matters relating to the management of its broadcasting infrastructure. Having said that, I have contacted RTE to seek the information requested by Deputy Ó Fearghaíl. RTE has advised that some of the sites which will not be used for digital terrestrial television are in use for other services, such as radio services, or are leased to telecommunications operators. RTE will continue to use them after the analogue switch-off takes place. Most of the other sites are owned by third parties. I understand that RTE plans to decommission its television equipment from these sites as soon as the analogue signals have been switched off.

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