Joe O'Toole (Independent)

I do not refer to Dingle in this case. I refer to cases in which names do not reflect what they were supposed to be.

Section 114 pertains to the availability of programmes, which relates to another point about RTE, namely, the establishment or maintenance of an emigrants' channel. While I am in favour of such a measure, I have many questions in this regard. Will it be free to air? I have made this point in the House before but as no one listens, I will make it again and will repeat it ad nauseam. In any part of Europe one can buy a dish and a decoder at no extra cost, with no cards and without a contract with anyone. One can tune into BBC 1, BBC 2, BBC 3, BBC 4, ITV 1, ITV 2, ITV 3 or ITV 4, as well as Cypriot, Maltese and many other stations throughout Europe that are free to air at no cost. However, one cannot tune into RTE. The Minister of State should not reply by citing the cost of audiences. I do not ask RTE to transmit anything that would cost additional money. However, I would like to be able to see the "RTE News", "Prime Time" current affairs and other programmes that are Irish and which would not cost us anything. It seems extraordinary that people from Belmullet to Moscow can tune into those other stations but cannot tune into RTE 1 or RTE 2, or to TV3 for that matter, without having a contract with Sky.

There is something completely wrong with this, which goes back to the highly important section 74, which deals with electronic programme guides, EPGs. I support that section. Anyone who wishes to know what this means should try to tune in to something like BBC 4, which is a superb television station, through a Sky control. Sky has made it so difficult it is like getting into heaven or like the rich man passing through the eye of a needle. This is the reason electronic programme guides, which appears to be a highly technical issue, is of great importance.

I welcome the establishment of the parliamentary channel, which is important. It should be easy to implement now that a live web feed is available from both Houses and from the committee rooms. I also welcome the announcement of a film channel although I am unsure how it will fit in. In common with the Minister for Finance and my colleagues in respect of the Lisbon treaty, which people tend not to read from cover to cover, I have not read the Bill from cover to cover.