Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)
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Question 22: To ask the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources the extent to which he expects TG4 to proceed on a stand alone basis in the future; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8310/05]

Noel Dempsey (Meath, Fianna Fail)
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TG4 is primarily an Irish language television station. It first broadcast on 31 October 1996 and operates as part of the RTE family of services.

The Government is committed to supporting the development of Irish language broadcasting, and to the establishment of TG4 as a separate statutory body, as provided for in the Broadcasting Act 2001. The Government recently agreed that I would indicate my intention to appoint a date towards the end of 2005 or early 2006 as the establishment day for Teilifís na Gaeilge. The Government decision also provided for the establishment of a project management group to oversee the establishment of Teilifís na Gaeilge as an independent entity.

The group will be chaired by this Department and will include officials from the Department of Finance and the Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs along with RTE and TG4. The group's first task will be to prepare a detailed implementation plan for the separate establishment of TG4.