Written answers
Tuesday, 9 April 2024
Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht
Broadcasting Sector
Pádraig O'Sullivan (Cork North Central, Fianna Fail)
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573. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht whether it is intended that the Irish public will be able to access the new Freely platform which is launching later this year and which will allow users to watch live TV via the internet for free, as provided for under the Good Friday Agreement; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14668/24]
Catherine Martin (Dublin Rathdown, Green Party)
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Freely is a UK-based television service operated by Everyone TV, a UK television communications company, and backed by the main UK free to air broadcasters, BBC, ITV, Channel 4 and Channel 5. Freely is being launched in the UK as a streaming-service version of the existing Freeview and Freesat services, and the question of access to the service is a matter for the service providers. The service does not come under my remit as Minister.
With regard to access to television services, the Good Friday Agreement provides for increased availability and prominence of TG4 in Northern Ireland, and does not include the provision of more UK broadcasting services in this jurisdiction.
Ireland already has a free to air broadcasting service in Saorview, our national digital terrestrial service, which is available in 98% of Irish homes and provides 16 TV channels as well as 12 radio stations on a free to air basis.
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