Terence Flanagan (Dublin North East, Independent)
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457. To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if his attention has been drawn to the fact that some television programmes made and broadcast by the public broadcasters are not currently available on their online player to Irish citizens currently outside the State, that are available online for citizens inside the State; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1219/14]

Pat Rabbitte (Dublin South West, Labour)
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RTE 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 issues concerning access to content on the RTE Player.

That said, my Department has been in contact with RTE regarding this issue and it has advised that the unavailability of content to international audiences is because RTE does not hold the rights to deliver this content outside of Ireland. At present, only 30% of the content on the Irish version of RTE Player is available to RTE's international audiences and this comprises in-house productions of news, current affairs, flagship entertainment shows, daytime programming and a time delayed transmission of the Sunday Game.

RTE is aware that this is an issue of concern to many of its viewers internationally and has been working to develop a possible solution to the issue that it hopes will address many of these concerns.