Emmet Stagg (Kildare North, Labour)
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Question 115: To ask the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources if, further to his reply to this Deputy in Dáil Éireann on 20 April 2005 when he undertook personally to follow up the issue of RTE reception in Britain, he will report on the proposals he has made in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30007/05]

Noel Dempsey (Meath, Fianna Fail)
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RTE's mandate to provide radio and television services is defined in section 28(1) of the Broadcasting Act 2001. This Act states that the national television and sound broadcasting services required to be maintained by RTE shall have the character of a public service, continue to be a free-to-air service and to be made available, in so far as is reasonably practicable, to the whole community on the island of Ireland. RTE's statutory mandate is quite clear in that RTE is mandated to make its services accessible to all of the people living on the island of Ireland.

While RTE's mandate does not extend to making its services available to Irish communities living abroad, RTE has acted in a number of ways that have resulted in its radio or television services being more widely accessible: for example, RTE's long wave and medium wave radio services are available throughout much of the UK and parts of Europe. All of RTE's radio services along with some of its television schedules can also be accessed on-line.

I recognise the value to the Irish abroad of being able to access Irish radio and television services. In the broadcasting Bill being prepared, I am considering how RTE's public service mandate needs to be amended to ensure it remains appropriate and relevant to the needs of the audience as the digital only era approaches. I am committed to considering the recommendations of the task force on emigrants in that context.