Jimmy Deenihan (Kerry North, Fine Gael)
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Question 136: To ask the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources if it is intended to use the most modern, effective and efficient technology for the broadcasting to overseas locations with particular reference to the UK; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11476/07]

Noel Dempsey (Meath, Fianna Fail)
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Section 3(1)(b) of the Broadcasting (Amendment) Bill 2006, as recently passed by Dáil Éireann, proposes to amend section 16 of the Broadcasting Act 1960 to require the RTÉ Authority to provide television and radio services to Irish communities outside of the island of Ireland.

Paragraphs (a) and (b) of section 16(2) of the Broadcasting Authority Act 1960 empower the RTÉ Authority to establish, maintain and operate transmission infrastructure for the purpose of providing its public service broadcasting services.

As such it is a matter for the RTÉ Authority to decide on the most effective and efficient technologies in delivering on its statutory mandate.

As a general point, the existing corpus of broadcasting legislation as amended by this Bill — in particular, the Broadcasting Authority Act 1960, the Radio and Television Act of 1988 and the Broadcasting Act 2001 — entrust the RTÉ Authority, the Broadcasting Commission of Ireland and broadcasting contractors with the task of considering the most appropriate broadcasting technologies to meet the broadcasting needs of audiences.