Brendan Kenneally (Fianna Fail)

I welcome the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources, Deputy Noel Dempsey, back to the House to continue the debate. Like the previous speakers, I welcome this Bill, which makes further provision for the upgrade and extension of television and general broadcasting services. Any measure that will ease the transmission to digital broadcasting and reception and make services to the people of Ireland more flexible and accessible is positive. The proposed transition to digital-only broadcasting and the elimination over time of the present analogue system will take some people by surprise. Rather than ultimately leave them without a picture on their screens, in conjunction with the broadcasting organisations we should make it clear what is about to happen.

Perhaps the first benefit of this debate is that those people who take an interest in politics and the business of the Houses of the Oireachtas will learn early on what changes are in the offing, even if they do not yet understand the Bill's detail. For instance, we must make people aware, particularly those like me who are not electronically minded, that in the not too distant future they will find their televisions no longer suitable to receive a signal, leaving them without programming. For some, that would mean the loss of their only source of enjoyment and window on the world, and we would certainly not wish that.

To put the matter in a simpler context that the older generation will understand, it will be like the transition from the original 405-line black-and-white television sets to what were then the top-of-the-range 625s from the late 1960s, or the transition from medium wave to FM radio in the 1980s. It is evidence of the ongoing evolution of broadcasting in this country, particularly television, and we will probably see it complete in Britain before here. The debate and publicity surrounding the change will alert people in Ireland to what is going on and give them time to modernise and update their television sets. While I realise it will mean upset for people, the changes will herald a new era in broadcasting.

Unfortunately, I cannot say it will bring better programmes or a reduction in the nonsense channels that transmit material that might charitably be referred to as "mush". However, it will be a step forward technically and generally benefit the viewer. Given the number of people who depend to a great extent on television, it would be a sensible decision, and it is only five years away. There still will be a good many television sets at that stage that could serve into the future but they will have to be dumped owing to the lack of an analogue signal. However, most television sets have a relatively short life nowadays in any case, and there is a view that a built-in obsolescence in sets gives them a fairly definite lifespan.

I note that the UK plans to finish its closedown of analogue services by 2012, and it has been suggested that we should hold to the same time line. However, it is ultimately a matter for the Minister under section 12. Switzerland has been implementing the change since 2002, and hopes to finish by 2009, while Finland started only last year. I am pleased to see the Government maintain, as a core principle, the availability of free-to-air channels. The digital system, by its very nature, does not provide for that, but the Government is committed to keeping those traditional free-to-air channels available after these changes have taken place.

At present the digital system is still in its infancy, and in a similar manner to the way in which it enhanced picture quality on television and sound quality on a range of electronic equipment, it will expand beyond our present understanding of the range of services eventually available. For instance, many will be already familiar with interactive services, with five or six mini-screens showing different matches at once. Those of us of a certain age will remember how, in our youth, when we wanted Philip Greene's commentary on a soccer international, we had to tune into the second-grade Cork wavelength to hear him between the whistles and whines of the medium-wave broadcast.

We have made great progress, not only in our having live pictures and impeccable sound from any location in the world but in the quality of our performances, which has also improved. We advanced from there to black-and-white television, then a second radio channel and colour television, followed by Irish-language radio and television, as well as local and regional radio stations. Our progress has been on a par with that of anywhere else in the world, and our programmes could rival those of any other country, particularly in view of our relatively small population and limited budgets. We have now entered the computer age, and ever more older people are finding it has not passed them by, beginning instead to enjoy all the benefits and freedoms the Internet, instant communication and the availability of information at the touch of a button can bring.

The computer and broadband have many uses, something also true of digital television, as people have discovered. It can be the platform for a wide range of services and other benefits. We are all aware of the copier, printer, scanner and fax machine, which many people use in their individual forms. Nowadays all those come as a single package, "bundled together", to use the current telephone marketing phrase. Likewise, the television set can be a source of many services.

For many, a new word is about to enter the digital debate. The Bill allows for RTE to provide several multiplexes, which are not multi-screen cinemas in town centres but the technology by which the various channels will be allocated and used. In addition to their own use of the available frequencies, they must also provide for other television stations that broadcast to the nation, for example, TG4, TV3, and a possible future station from Northern Ireland. I note that RTE, as is proper for a national broadcaster, will be responsible for providing and maintaining one of the multiplexes that will serve its own and independent stations. Although I do not understand the technical details, this will avoid an unseemly row such as that regarding the use of RTE masts by independent television stations.

I compliment RTE on the strides it has made, often in difficult circumstances and under necessary constraints imposed by Government. It has done a good job but has let standards slip in recent years with frequent use of bad language and inappropriate material before the watershed. We are familiar with coarse language but it has no place on the national broadcasting channels. I was pleased to read a newspaper report last week that "The Late Late Show" was instructed to raise standards on behaviour and language that many people find upsetting when in company. Before anyone cries "censorship" I refer to good taste and basic manners. I feel sympathy for the older generation, many of whom have no choice apart from Irish channels. They are entitled to weekend entertainment without language and behaviour at which they cringe in embarrassment. Some may respond that such people can switch off the television but that should not be the only remedy. They are entitled to expect reasonable standards, especially from the national broadcaster.

Such slackness reminds me of a broadcaster from the other end of the spectrum, who passed away in the past fortnight. Mr. Seán MacRéamoinn earned the respect of his colleagues and the listening public alike. He was steeped in learning, Irish culture, our language and history. He was the epitome of professional broadcasting, revered in the broadcasting business in many countries and his passing drew tributes from people throughout Europe. He was a fine ambassador for the country, of whom we can be proud.

I am pleased this Bill will establish and maintain a television service for Irish communities outside Ireland. Many emigrants are served by internet streaming and podcasts but live programming on television is preferable in terms of sound and picture quality. This service will reach emigrants in the United Kingdom but I encourage RTE to continue its webcast service to those further afield. The Minister could consider the request that live programming be extended to radio. The BBC was successful at this through the BBC World Service, which was later developed as a television service.

I am also pleased the national stations will be numbered 1 upwards on all receivers sold in the country. The stations will maintain status in this country and make it easier to access local stations for those unfamiliar with tuning systems. The legislation also sets out the roles and functions of the Broadcasting Commission of Ireland and the Commission for Communication Regulation, ComReg, which guarantees all broadcasting parties a fair deal and an authority to which they may complain if aggrieved.

Broadcasting has made much progress in 75 years and the days of narrow influence are long gone. The days of Government control of the medium are in the past. However, it is incumbent on the Government to maintain fair play and oversee the process.

Section 6 provides for local and regional radio to be developed to a wider audience. These stations have been a success story in Ireland. Stations such as WLR FM fulfil an important function and have taken this responsibility seriously. I acknowledge the contribution to the social, educational and cultural fabric of my area. The same goes for Beat 102-103 in a more informal context, which serves the younger generation. Local stations have a good mix that can compete with national broadcasters and emerge with a considerable share of the audience.

Ireland has kept apace with technology in many areas of endeavour and must do the same with radio and television, even if these are perceived as leisure activities. We now see the beginning of the digital phase of broadcasting, with potential of which we can only dream. Developments in the future will match the first hesitant broadcasts from 2 RN in the 1930s. I commend the Bill to the House.