Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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Question 170: To ask the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources when he expects to extend the broadcasting and transmission of RTÉ radio and television to neighbouring jurisdictions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38799/06]

Noel Dempsey (Meath, Fianna Fail)
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As the Deputy may already be aware, RTÉ's statutory mandate, as defined in Section 28(1) of the Broadcasting Act, 2001, provides that RTÉ's radio and television services shall be made available, in so far as is reasonably practicable, to the whole community on the Island of Ireland. As such RTÉ's statutory mandate does not extend to the provision of radio or television services to Irish communities living in Britain or elsewhere. As a consequence RTÉ may not use the proceeds of the television licence fee to provide such services. However, it should be noted that many people living outside of the Island of Ireland already enjoy access to a considerable quantity of RTÉ's television programming by way of the Internet, and to RTÉ's radio services by way of satellite, LW and MW and the Internet.

In the light of the recommendations of the Task Force on Emigration, it is proposed to amend the public service remits of RTÉ and TG4 to allow for the provision and public funding of broadcasting services to Irish communities in Britain. Proposals to amend the Broadcasting Act, 2001 are contained in the draft general scheme of the Broadcasting Bill, which has been submitted to the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Communications, Marine and Natural Resources for the purposes of public consultation under the eConsultation initiative. I am now considering extracting this provision from the Broadcasting Bill in using it in a stand-alone bill.