Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Deputy for the ongoing work he has done to promote closer relations and engagement throughout this island. Of course, he is right. The Good Friday Agreement committed to facilitating a number of initiatives, including the widespread availability of TG4 in Northern Ireland. I will certainly raise that issue, the issue of BBC Radio Ulster and all the other issues the Deputy has raised with the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when we next meet.

With regard to the sports events the Deputy referenced, it is my understanding that TG4 had the right to broadcast that event on an all-island basis. As such, viewers in Northern Ireland may access these events on a free-to-air basis on the Freeview platform, which carries TG4. My understanding is, without sounding like some sort of technical person, that there is an issue when a viewer in Northern Ireland attempts to view an event on the TG4 online player. On a technical level, this is because there is no separate IP address protocol for Northern Ireland and the rest of the UK and, therefore, the device assumes that the viewer is outside of Ireland. We need to work our way forward on this. I am assured that TG4 circulates this message on its Spórt TG4 website and social platforms.

On the broader issue the Deputy has raised, let me raise it with the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland and I will then come back to him. I accept the seriousness of this issue for people on both sides of the Border.

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