Dominic Hannigan (Labour)

I probably will not need all seven because most of the points I had intended to make have been well made by previous speakers.

I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Conor Lenihan, to discuss this issue. The advent of the TETRA system is good news. Recently there was a general report on the Garda Síochána. One of the criticisms levelled at the Garda was that it did not use technology as much as other comparable police forces in the European Union. Anything like this new technology that will help communications must be welcomed and will help to align the emergency services in the way they contact each other.

The issue is the secondary impact on people which was not the intention. People have been able to watch and enjoy viewing television stations but owing to technical problems, the reception is being interfered with by the TETRA system. There has been a problem for over a year. I have been contacted by numerous residents in my own county, Meath, particularly around Kells which is not far from Senator Wilson's area. Initially they had no idea why the problem had arisen; some had attributed it to the age of their television sets. It was only when a number of residents noted the problem that two and two was put together and they realised there was a more systemic problem in the way it affected television signals. It was at that stage people began to look for potential reasons and realised it must be due to the advent of the new TETRA system.

I am glad that there is a fix that could more or less solve the problem. As other Senators said, however, that fix comes at a cost, particularly for the less well-off in society. It is another expense they can ill afford in these hard economic times. It is not just the cost of the filter box to rectify the problem, there is also the cost of fitting the device which could run to three, four or five times the cost of the device. It is a cost no one expected to pay. I appreciate that the Minister of State has indicated that it is up to a television licence holder to ensure equipment is fit for purpose and that the Government cannot take responsibility for paying for the device. However, there must be a way to limit the cost. As we know the system will be rolled out across the country in the next while, will TETRA Ireland look at the possibility of purchasing filters in bulk in order that they could be made available at a cheaper cost than the retail price? This would make it easier for those who can least afford to meet the additional cost. The company could purchase several thousand devices and make them available at a reduced price to those members of the public who might least be able to afford to pay for this technical solution. That might go some way to making things a little easier.

I recognise that the company has done some work in communicating on the issue to make people aware that there is a technical fix. I suggest it keep going, particularly in those areas where the system has yet to be rolled out, as it is important that people are made aware of the issue. I encourage anyone in my area around Kells who is experiencing problems with television reception to contact either TETRA Ireland or me, as we can point them in the right direction to fix the problem. I thank the Minister of State for his attendance.