NEWS FROM THE CELTIC LEAGUE
IRISH GOVERNMENT QUERIED ON ALL IRELAND DTT AND SAORSAT PROVISION
The Celtic League have written to Ireland’s Communication Minister, Eamon Ryan,asking him to clarify possible ambiguities in an agreement signed between the UK and Ireland on the provision of digital TV services on a Pan-Irish basis.
The League have also asked if a recently announced Irish digital satellite service (Freesat) based on a `spot-beam’ basis will be available to all the
people of Ireland. Some Irish TV services are currently available in the six counties of Ireland but only via a subscription service.
“The Minister for Communications
Energy and Natural Resources
Eamon Ryan TD
29-31 Adelaide Road
Dublin 2
Ireland
09/09/10
Dear Minister,
I draw your attention to the attached correspondence to the United Kingdom department of Culture relating to the Memorandum of Understanding on broadcasting signed between Ireland and the UK earlier this year. I understand that some ambiguity now surrounds what was agreed specifically in relation to the section headed `Cooperation (c)’. Can you outline your understanding of what
the respective government positions are i.e. will BBC and RTE services be carried on DTT across the whole of Ireland?
On a related point and given that ambiguity surrounds the provision of DTT services can you advise if the FTA Ka-sat (Saorsat) service that your Department recently announced will be available across the whole of Ireland i.e. will this spot beam delivery of FTA Irish satellite digital services be accessible to people on the North East coastal area of Ulster who may wish to avail of it?
Finally have you or your colleague (the Minister for Foreign Affairs) queried why in the run up to digital services the provision of TG4 on the analogue transmitter at Divis has been so restricted?
Yours sincerely,
J B Moffatt (Mr)
Director of Information”
Memorandum of Understanding link here:
https://www.dcenr.gov.ie/NR/rdonlyres/7FC4288D-714E-41D8-A139-8A309C2F9A14/0/UKNI\
ROIMOUFeb2010.pdf
Saorsat link here:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saorsat
J B Moffatt (Mr)
Director of Information
Celtic League
09/09/10
The Celtic League has branches in the six Celtic Countries. It works to promote cooperation between these countries and campaigns on a
broad range of political, cultural and environmental matters. It highlights human rights abuse, monitors all military activity and focuses on
socio-economic issues.
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