Brian O'Shea (Waterford, Labour)
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Question 515: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the reason the RTÉ channels are not free to air when they are part of satellite packages; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32391/08]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin South, Green Party)
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RTÉ is carried by the Sky satellite service in Ireland. Sky encrypts the RTÉ service so it cannot be received in other countries and charges a fee as part of the overall satellite package to Irish subscribers for accessing the RTÉ service. Sky is a commercial company and is not regulated in Ireland. I have no role in relation to the fees set by satellite providers including where these fees cover access to RTÉ1 and RTÉ2. RTÉ1 and RTÉ2 are available free to air on a terrestrial platform throughout Ireland and can be accessed through a roof top aerial or, in some areas, through a set top aerial, free of charge. RTÉ's terrestrial network, which has been in operation since the 1960s, is being upgraded to digital technology. RTÉ1 and RTÉ2 will continue to be available free to air when the network has been upgraded to digital technology.