Gerry Adams (Louth, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

513. To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if his attention has been drawn to the fact that some BT customers in Northern Ireland are unable to access RTÉ Player programmes, that there is an issue with dynamic IP addresses being provided from an address pool from Britain, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland and for copyright reasons these customers are presented with the international version of the RTÉ player, that this is negatively impacting upon some BT customers in Northern Ireland; if he will consider allowing BT customers who prove they are resident in Northern Ireland access to the RTÉ Player; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27014/13]

Pat Rabbitte (Dublin South West, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

RTÉ is an independent national public service broadcaster whose remit and obligations are set out in the Broadcasting Act 2009, and, as such, I, as Minister have no role in it day-to-day operations including in relation to controlling the access to content on the RTÉ Player outside the jurisdiction of the Republic of Ireland. Section 114(1)(a) of the Broadcasting Act, 2009 states that one of objects of RTÉ is to establish, maintain and operate a national television and sound broadcasting service which shall have the character of a public service, be free-to-air service and be made available, in so far as it is reasonably practicable, to the whole community on the island of Ireland. Section 98 provides that it shall be independent of the pursuance of these objects.

That said, I have instructed my Officials to contact RTÉ in relation to the matter which the Deputy has raised regarding the access of content on RTÉ Player by BT Customers who are resident in Northern Ireland and I shall provide the Deputy with RTÉ's response when they have reverted to me.