Charlie O'Connor (Dublin South West, Fianna Fail)
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Question 624: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he will raise with the RTÉ Authority the need to cater for the broadcast needs of the Irish community in Britain as raised at the recent meeting of the British-Irish Inter-Parliamentary Body; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32529/07]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin South, Green Party)
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Section 3 of the Broadcasting (Amendment) Act 2007, enacted and commenced in April of this year, amends RTÉ's public service remit by requiring the national public service broadcaster to provide a television and radio service to Irish communities abroad and stipulating that any such television service must be representative of the existing RTÉ One, RTÉ Two and TG4 channels.

Section 14 of the Broadcasting (Amendment) Act 2007 empowers RTÉ to utilise the public funding it receives in respect of television licence fee income in pursuance of this amended public service remit.

RTÉ's initial focus in fulfilling its new mandate is on ensuring the provision of a television service to Irish communities in Britain.

RTÉ is currently planning the establishment of an international service for such a purpose and has an active group working on the project.

This group is currently reviewing the various options available, including the cost and availability of space on the broadcasting transmission platforms of third parties, and the cost and the acquisition of certain rights associated with the broadcast of programmes outside of Ireland.

On completion of this process RTÉ will outline its specific proposals to meet the mandate set by the Oireachtas under section 3 of the 2007 Act.