Bernard Allen (Cork North Central, Fine Gael)
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Question 59: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources his plans to provide digital terrestrial television in view of the recent collapse of the tendering process; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23057/10]

Liz McManus (Wicklow, Labour)
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Question 64: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the way he plans to proceed with digital terrestrial television here in view of the recent unsuccessful negotiations for the commercial DTT contracts; the further way he will ensure that commercial DTT will proceed here by the 2012 deadline; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23015/10]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin South, Green Party)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 59 and 64 together.

Part 8 of the Broadcasting Act 2009 provides the legislative basis for the development of Digital Terrestrial Television (DTT) services in Ireland and for analogue switch off. Under the provisions of the Broadcasting Act 2009, RTÉ is required to develop a national free to air DTT service which enables the switch off of free-to-air analogue television services in 2012.

The RTÉ DTT service is required to provide a digital platform for the existing analogue free to air television services, and provide space for additional public service channels, if required. In the event of spare capacity it can be used by RTÉ on a commercial basis, to offer carriage to other commercial television channels.

In relation to commercial DTT, the Broadcasting Act also provides for the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland (BAI) to seek to licence commercial DTT services in Ireland.

A competition for a commercial DTT service provider was initiated by the Broadcasting Commission of Ireland (BCI) in 2008. Three applicants were short-listed. In July 2008 the BCI announced its intention to enter into negotiations with Boxer DTT Ltd, the highest placed consortium.

Boxer withdrew from the process in April 2009. As a result, negotiations commenced with the next placed bidder, the OneVision consortium. In April 2010, BAI withdrew the contract offer from OneVision as that consortium was unable to reach agreement with the network operator, RTÉNL.

The BAI offered the contract to the third place consortium, Easy TV earlier this month but they declined the offer.

While the fact that the BAI process did not result in a commercial DTT operator is unfortunate, the plans for the national RTÉ DTT service continue to be progressed. In this regard, I signed an Order, SI 85 of 2010, under section 129 of the Broadcasting Act, 2009 requiring RTÉ to launch their DTT service to approximately 90% of the population by 31st October 2010. I have been informed by RTÉ that they are on target to meet the October launch date and I welcome this development.

The 2009 Act also requires RTÉ to provide the full national digital service by the end of 2011 or such date as I may specify. I have communicated to RTÉ that the date for the provision of a full national DTT service is 31st December 2011.

The development of a national DTT network is important to Ireland, both in terms of securing the future of public service broadcasting and in terms of the benefits to be accrued from the use of the "digital dividend". The "digital dividend" arises from the closure of the analogue television network and is a clear enabler of economic and social growth.

My priority is therefore to provide for the closure, in 2012, of the analogue terrestrial "free to air" broadcasting services provided by RTÉ, TG4 and TV3. The European Commission has set 2012 as the timeline for analogue switch off throughout Europe and the EU Council of Ministers has asked Member States to complete switch over by 2012 in so far as possible.

Whilst a commercial DTT service is not essential to provide for analogue switch off, it would have provided additional consumer choice. In this regard, I intend to meet with those involved in the development of DTT and analogue switch over (ASO) in Ireland, the BAI, ComReg and RTÉ, to consider the broadcasting, telecommunications and spectrum policy issues that arise as a result of the outcome of the BAI's commercial DTT process.