Legislation to cover the operation of digital television and to permit the broadcasting of Irish television services to emigrants abroad, particularly those living in Britain, was published yesterday by Minister for Communications Noel Dempsey.
The Broadcasting (Amendment) Bill 2006, which is designed to amend the framework for the licensing of digital terrestrial television, will be introduced in the Oireachtas early in the new year, said Mr Dempsey.
"A number of key priorities are addressed in this Bill. RTÉ will now provide a broadcasting service to Irish communities abroad. A new framework will also be established to allow for the licensing of digital terrestrial television (DTT).
"This new framework amends the existing framework set out in legislation and makes it more flexible.
"The framework will also allow for consideration of the licensing of digital sound broadcasting services in due course."
He said Ireland had been well served by its analogue terrestrial network for over 40 years.
"During this time Irish viewers have watched RTÉ services on a free-to-air basis throughout the country. In more recent times further services have been provided on this basis by TV3 and TG4.
"Building on the current experience with the DTT pilot, Ireland will now proceed to upgrade this analogue network to a digital terrestrial network."
He said one of the advantages of DTT was that many more television channels could be provided, picture quality was better and high-definition and interactive services could also be made available.
"Once DTT has been rolled out and viewers have swapped over to DTT or other digital platforms such as cable, satellite and IPTV, it will be possible to switch off the analogue transmission network."
The proposed legislation allows for analogue switch-off when viewers no longer require an analogue service, he said..
"Switch-off will free up valuable spectrum for more broadcasting and other new services."
Mr Dempsey said the Bill would also enable RTÉ to provide a service to communities abroad.
"It is intended that RTÉ will produce a service that reflects and represents the content of the channels currently available in Ireland - RTÉ1, RTÉ2 and TG4 will contribute to this service. This service will now be a fundamental part of RTÉ's remit.
"The 2002 report of the taskforce on policy regarding emigrants noted that the issue of contact with Ireland and the desire for information about contemporary Ireland is very important to Irish communities abroad, particularly the elderly.
"The taskforce recommends that consideration be given to developing the role of television as a contact point for the Irish abroad, and that funding be made available for the provision of such a service."
Labour Party chief whip Emmet Stagg welcomed the Bill, particularly the sections designed to provide RTÉ television broadcasts to the Irish community in Britain. He said he was glad the Government had seen sense on this matter and was going to enact it early in the new year.
