Ahern backs TV plan for emigrants
Beaming RTÉ television programmes into the homes of Irish emigrants in the UK was tonight backed by Taoiseach Bertie Ahern.
Mr Ahern was responding to a parliamentary question in the Dáil by Labour Party chief whip Emmet Stagg who said he believed the service was essential since the ending of Tara TV broadcasts.
Mr Stagg, who regularly campaigns for the rights of Irish emigrants abroad, suggested that a RTÉ licence fee increase could be ring-fenced to fund the service.
Mr Ahern said he had also hoped the project could be funded from the national broadcaster’s existing licence fee, but this did not seem possible.
However he told Mr Stagg: “I assure (you) that I will follow it up.”
Mr Stagg said such proposals were contained in the recent ’Task Force on the Irish Abroad’ discussion document.
“Irish TV coverage is one of the priority demands made by the Irish in Britain,” he said.
“I have been advised that broadcasts are technically and legally feasible and that the only matter hindering it is the cost.”
Plans are currently afoot to broadcast Co Galway-based Irish language station, TG4 into Northern Ireland under the terms of the 1998 Good Friday Agreement.
Mr Stagg is campaigning to extend free travel entitlements to elderly Irish emigrants when they return to Ireland on holidays.
