Boost for Irish Language Broadcasting

Irish and UK Governments sign Memorandum of Understanding on Digital Television

London, 1st February 2010

Irish language broadcasting in Northern Ireland received a boost today as the Irish and UK Governments agreed a Memorandum of Understanding which provides a framework for continuing co-operation on broadcasting issues on the island of Ireland.

The Memorandum, which is aimed at ensuring a smooth transition to digital switchover and the switch-off of analogue services in Northern Ireland and Ireland, was signed by Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources Eamon Ryan and Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport Ben Bradshaw.

The Memorandum commits the two Governments to facilitating the widespread availability of  RTE services in Northern Ireland and BBC services in Ireland on a free-to-air basis. It will also ensure the continuing widespread availability of the Irish language channel TG4 in Northern Ireland following the digital switchover.

Minister Ryan said:

“This agreement is the culmination of a very successful period of co-operation on broadcasting issues between the Governments of Ireland and the UK and its benefits will be manifold. It will help to ensure a smooth transition to digital television, the availability of TG4 throughout the island of Ireland and will facilitate RTE availability on an all-island basis. The Agreement will also help the delivery of broader economic and social benefits which are to be gained by all our citizens from the release of digital dividend spectrum following the closure of the analogue TV services.”

Minister for Foreign Affairs Micheál Martin TD, also welcomed the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding and said:

“I am delighted that the two Governments have today laid the foundations for continued and increased availability of Irish television services in Northern Ireland following the transition to digital terrestrial television. The Irish Government is acutely aware of the huge cultural importance of RTÉ and TG4 for so many people in all parts of Northern Ireland. We are very pleased that today’s agreement will help facilitate their enjoyment of Irish television services long into the future. The Irish Government is committed to assisting the development of the Irish language in Northern Ireland and the implementation of outstanding commitments made in the St Andrews Agreement including an Irish Language Act. We look forward to early agreement on an Irish language strategy.”

Shaun Woodward, the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland said:

“The Good Friday Agreement and St Andrews Agreement recognised the importance of the unique cultural and linguistic diversities that exist on the island of Ireland. The Government remains committed to the full implementation of the Agreements, and will support the Executive, in any way it can, in the development and implementation of its Irish Language strategy. Broadcasting has a key role to play in the continuing development of minority languages. I am therefore delighted to see the signing of this Memorandum of Understanding, which underlines the Government’s continuing commitment to the development of the Irish language in Northern Ireland, by ensuring the continued widespread availability of TG4 across Northern Ireland following the digital switchover.”

Ben Bradshaw, the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, said:

“I am very pleased to sign this MoU which is an important step towards ensuring that switchover goes smoothly on both sides of the border, and that BBC services will continue to be available in Ireland and Irish services continue to be available in Northern Ireland.”

PR posted here [link]

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comments. I highlight points of most interest above in red.

This is a good day for Green Party TV policy which was in their manifesto prior to 2007 election. But an MoU is not legislation. And legislation is no guarantee we will see ant FTA either.  Legislation dictates that RTE must provide international service, but they don’t. A ministerial directive is required if RTÉ wont do it. So this MoU will go so far as to highlight that RTE encryption is out of step with bilateral agreement of two nations.

This MoU should make sure that Irish TV is FTA not FTV in Ireland North & South, and UK 5 should be FTA in the south. And here is where we are at. UK 5 are FTA in the south via DTH-DVB. The Irish 3 are FTV in the North on DTH-DVB.  UK 5 were planned to be subscription based on Irish DTT (now not running) and Irish 3 are not on Freeview or Freesat and carriage will need to be fought for. It is a nice deal but it takes much more to see it actually happen.

Action to make this MoU reality would for me centre on Ryan DIRECTING RTÉ to go FTA not FTV on Sky in NI. Simple really. AND I firmly believe that Minister Ryan has the power to direct, which his Dept. advisers say he hasn’t.

There is a lot of emphasis on TG4 and switch-over which is code for DTT as DTH-DVB is here now. The legal understanding seems short on detail, or shy’s away from distinctions about platform, if they “commit” availability FTA then they should NOT disinfranchise citizens with FreeSat and FTA boxes. The RTE encrypt deal with Sky should be overturned at once.