The Minister for Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands, Ms de Valera, told the Dail it was not her view that RTE should be entitled to indexation of the licence fee.

During Question Time Mr Michael D Higgins (Lab, Galway West) had asked the Minister about proposals for digitalisation. He wanted her to clarify the situation regarding the fee since it was a decision of the previous Government to index-link it.

Ms de Valera agreed the Rainbow Government made that decision but "it is not my particular position. I made that quite well known in opposition and the same situation applies in Government."

She added that "to get into the details of indexation of the licence fee at this stage would perhaps be distracting from the main principles that have yet to be decided".

The Minister also told deputies she had no plans to change the nature of the long-wave radio service provided by Atlantic 252 whose licence comes up for renewal next year. She said she had not received any proposals from RTE to increase its stake in the station and "I have no function with regard to the plans of the majority shareholder in the station".

Ms Liz McManus (DL, Wicklow) asked if there were any restrictions or any guarantees given to the company CLT when it was awarded the franchise that would prevent RTE coming forward with proposals.

Ms de Valera reiterated that she had no plans to seek a change in the status of Atlantic 252 based on the fact that she had not received any proposal from RTE.

Ms McManus repeated the question suggesting that guarantees might have been given in 1989 to CLT or subsequently by a Minister. The Minister said she did not have that information to hand but would pass it on to the deputy.

Mr Higgins asked if the Minister received a proposal from RTE for permission to re-acquire more significant shareholding when the franchise went up for sale, would she be opposed to such a request.

Ms de Valera said if she received any proposal from RTE she would consider it "in the light of information that I have".