Am I right in interpreting the original reply in relation to the RTE five-year plan as being an indication that the Parliamentary Secretary regards this plan as being merely a set of projections and that there is no intention or no way in which the Government propose to implement in toto the plan submitted by RTE?

(Dublin South-Central): I stated that from time to time the Department request projections from various semi-State bodies. This was done during the time of the Coalition Government. RTE gave projections at that time covering the period until 1983. These were never made out in proper detail. I can see the Authority's point of view; they tried to give projections for five years in relation to the broad spectrum of broadcasting, including local or community radio and the second TV channel.

Surely the Parliamentary Secretary will agree there is a vast distinction between a projection and a comprehensive plan, and will he agree that the RTE five-year plan was a comprehensive proposal, including projections? The projections are only part of a comprehensive plan. Is it not the clear message that the Government have no intention of seriously considering the RTE five-year plan?

(Dublin South-Central): Will the Deputy get his facts right? There were no detailed plans submitted to my Department. There were projections for the next five years.