Cecilia Keaveney (Fianna Fail)

There is a need for balance. It is very important that we do not give anyone more fodder unnecessarily.

Last week and the previous week I called for a debate on the strengths of the country in terms of being able to provide energy supplies for all of Europe because nothing starts or finishes without an energy supply. There is no positivity in the media. I urge them to be a little more balanced in picking up on some of the small snippets of positivity. We must show leadership in this regard. This country is an awful lot better than it was ten years ago in terms of infrastructure and many other aspects. The more we beat ourselves, the more fodder we will give to others with which to beat us. I thank the Leader for arranging a debate on Thursday during which we can highlight many of the issues raised.

I raise another issue I have raised previously. During the summer when we in County Donegal, like everyone else, were enjoying sunshine, there was snow on our television screens. As a result, all of the wonderful news was not being received in many houses in the county. When the analogue service is switched off in 2012, we will switch to digital straightaway. Many people do not receive an analogue service, although they are paying their television licence fee. If they do not receive an analogue service now, they will not receive a digital service following the switchover. I cannot get answers to the questions I am raising as to how we will have free access to services - SAORVIEW - for homes not only in County Donegal but also throughout the country. The Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources and, if necessary, the Joint Committee on Communications, Energy and Natural Resources should take up this matter because, whether the news is good or bad or the media are being positive or negative, it is important there is access to this information, especially when people are paying their television licence fee.