Brian Hayes (Dublin South West, Fine Gael)
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Question 65: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he will enhance the powers of the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland to allow them to force an agreement between RTE NL and commercial multiplex providers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37868/10]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin South, Green Party)
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The Broadcasting Act 2009 made provision for the development of a commercial digital terrestrial television (DTT) service in Ireland. In this regard, the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland (BAI) was given the role of providing for commercial DTT service providers. In particular, Section 131 of the legislation provides the BAI with the function and associated powers to arrange for the establishment of commercial DTT multiplexes.

As the Deputy is aware, the competition initiated by the Broadcasting Commission of Ireland (BCI) in 2008 failed to produce a national commercial DTT service provider and this failure has been largely attributed to the economic downturn and the consequential impact that this had on the business cases of the applicants.

The failure of the commercial DTT process was disappointing and it is now not expected that a commercial DTT operator will materialise until sometime after analogue switch off in 2012. As a result, consideration of the potential in this regard and of the most appropriate mechanisms for delivering this will be undertaken closer to that time. I will consult with the BAI as to what action, legislation or otherwise, may be necessary in this regard.

In the meantime, the clear responsibility of my Department, in conjunction with the BAI, ComReg and other stakeholders, is to ensure the successful delivery of the 'free-to-air' DTT service to the viewing public. I have directed that this be done to facilitate switch-off of the analogue system by the end of 2012 and the consequential digital dividend that will arise.