Seán Power (Kildare South, Fianna Fail)

I thank the Senator for his contribution, but I must point out that there is no single transmission system that can meet the needs of all Irish listeners in Britain. There are always constraints that apply to cross-Border and free-to-air terrestrial broadcasting. These limits may arise from technical considerations as well as from international regulatory agreements that we have signed. That is why it is necessary to look to other forms of distribution, such as satellite and the Internet, in which RTE has developed significant services in recent years. Freesat will mark another stage of progress in this area.

Some of the documentation referred to earlier in the debate raise a number of questions, but I am not in a position to clarify them yet. However, I will endeavour to do so as soon as possible and I will get back to the Senator on them. I am not in a position to accept the amendment as proposed.