Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 1139: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the conditions under which a licensing arrangement has issued for the provision of the Irish DTT network; the conditions of the licence granted taking into account the policy objectives of the Broadcasting Commission of Ireland as stated in its multiplex licensing policy of 2008 that BCI remains committed to fair, reasonable and non-discriminatory access, and to regulatory standards and practices which accord with EU law, and to ensure effective competition in both existing and emerging markets; if arising from the granting of the licence competition exists within the retail area for the Irish DTT service; if other competitors as a consequence are enabled to provide a DTT service by being enabled to purchase a wholesale facility from the licensee; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1388/09]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin South, Green Party)
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The Broadcasting (Amendment) Act 2007 provides for the development of digital terrestrial television in Ireland and for the closure of the national analogue TV network. Under this Act, RTÉ is required to provide a national digital terrestrial television system with capacity to carry RTÉ, TG4 and TV3. It is anticipated that this new service will eventually replace the existing analogue free to air television service.

The legislation also requires the Broadcasting Commission of Ireland (BCI) to seek commercial applicants who are interested in providing commercial digital terrestrial television services. The BCI ran a competition for three national Digital Terrestrial Television (DTT) multiplex contracts in March 2008. The BCI, which is an independent regulatory authority, is responsible under this Act for the licensing and competition issues raised by the Deputy.