Rural Deflection Systems and Legislation
Fitzgerald asks whether planned legislation will address rural deflection systems and honour Fine Gael’s commitment to legalise them. Nealon points to a later question on the issue; the Ceann Comhairle cautions against turning Question Time into a Second Reading debate.
: Does the Minister of State's reply refer to areas not covered by cable television? If it does, how does this affect the commitment given by his party and by his colleague, Deputy Donnellan, prior to the election that legislation would be introduced by Fine Gael in Government to legalise deflection systems in rural areas? I would like to get a comment in relation to rural areas in which, I know, the Minister of State, Deputy Donnellan, is interested and where BBC and ITV have been received.
Comment on this
: This is a very serious matter and there is a lot of public disquiet about it. In the Bill is the Minister of State prepared to take into consideration the difficulties being experienced in rural areas? Will the Bill accommodate those difficulties?
Comment on this
: The practice is growing up of having many Second Reading debates on Bills that have not been circulated. It is not in keeping with Question Time.
Comment on this
: There is public disquiet about this and the Minister of State should state to the House that he is prepared to give careful consideration to the areas outlined for him.