merrion street

Communications Minister Pat Rabbitte spoke this morning at the event to mark the completion of the digital TV switchover and the switch off of the national analogue TV.

The Minister said:

Public service broadcasting remains vital to the social, political and cultural life of the nation. What we are doing here today ensures people will continue to have access to free to air television, providing a full range of services, with a strong national voice.

Regarding the digital dividend, Minister Rabbitte noted that the closure of the analogue TV network frees up space for mobile broadband services presenting opportunities for new broadcasting and telecommunications services.

Also welcoming the switch, Tánaiste Eamonn Gilmore underlined the significance of the switch in Northern Ireland saying:

The Good Friday Agreement contains important provisions to promote respect, understanding and tolerance for linguistic diversity. Making TG4 and Raidió na Gaeltachta as well as the two RTÉ channels available to an audience in Northern Ireland is a welcome step towards fully realising the shared society envisaged by the Agreement. I very much welcome that people on all parts of the island will now be able to enjoy the programmes offered by TG4 and RTE.