Written answers

Tuesday, 25 October 2011

Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources

Broadcasting Services

9:00 pm

Photo of Paudie CoffeyPaudie Coffey (Waterford, Fine Gael)
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Question 342: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if there is any facility for Irish citizens in Northern Ireland or the UK to access Irish television stations through the new Saorview service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31432/11]

Photo of Pat RabbittePat Rabbitte (Dublin South West, Labour)
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As the Deputy may be aware, a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed by the British and Irish Governments on 1 February 2010. The Memorandum deals with broadcast services and related radio spectrum issues in the context of the provision of digital terrestrial services on the island of Ireland and provides for cooperation between the authorities in both jurisdictions on this issue. One of the main aims of the Memorandum is to ensure the continued provision of TG4 in Northern Ireland after the switch-off of the analogue broadcast signals on 24 October 2012. Under the Memorandum, the UK Government has also agreed to facilitate the widespread availability of RTÉ 1 and RTÉ 2 on the Northern Ireland digital terrestrial television network.

My Department continues to engage with ComReg, the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland, the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, RTÉ and the Authorities in the UK on these issues and much progress has been made to date. I can confirm that the UK authorities have made spectrum available in Northern Ireland to facilitate this aim and work in now continuing on the detailed planning and procurement required to make these services available in Northern Ireland by the end of 2012.

In addition, the Memorandum has facilitated the development of a coordinated approach on both sides of the border in respect of the roll-out of digital terrestrial television (DTT) and analogue switch-off. I recently announced Wednesday 24 October 2012 as the official date of completion of the digital TV switchover, when the analogue TV network in Ireland will be switched off. Digital UK also announced that the analogue TV network will also be turned off in Northern Ireland on 24 October 2012, in order to make the transition to digital as straightforward as possible for TV viewers and broadcasters.

In addition to the reception of signals from the Northern Ireland DTT network, certain parts of Northern Ireland will continue to receive the Irish channels from 'overspill', which is when broadcast signals are received outside of the intended coverage area. This currently happens to an extent with the existing analogue system and will continue to occur after analogue switch-off with the Saorview DTT system. There are currently no plans, however, for extending the coverage of the services available on Saorview to Britain.

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