asked the Minister for Communications if he will outline the progress regarding the issue of a licence for the development of direct satellite broadcasting by Atlantic Satellites; if he will give details of the financial agreement reached with this company; and the expected timescale for the development of direct satellite broadcasting.

Negotiations with a view to concluding an agreement with the company in question have now been substantially concluded and I expect to report to Government on the outcome in the near future.

There is as yet no agreement with the company and it is, therefore, not possible to give details in relation to the remuneration likely to be provided to the State under any licence that may be issued to the company to provide the satellite network. Likewise, it would be speculative to forecast a timescale of the development of direct satellite broadcasting.

In view of the difficulties with the shuttle programme in America and the Ariane rocket in Europe, will the Minister state if the timescale has been changed in relation to the launching of an Irish-owned direct satellite broadcasting service?

I do not see that the two cases mentioned by the Deputy will have any effect at this stage on our direct broadcasting satellite proposals. I assume that the difficulties encountered with regard to the Ariane rocket and the shuttle programme will be overcome and that they will soon be back on their normal schedule. If that is the case and assuming we can go ahead with our own proposals, there should be no delay because the timescale involved is at least two or three years.

Will the Minister confirm he will be finalising negotiations with Atlantic Satellites for the provision of a direct satellite broadcasting service?

We have more or less concluded discussions and we now have to consider the proposals. Then, I shall put them to Government. I have not yet made up my mind, nor have the Government had a chance to make up their mind, as to whether we should proceed on the basis of the proposals but we shall make a decision in due course.

Will the Minister confirm he has entered into serious negotiations with Atlantic Satellites? Has he not given a general public commitment that that firm will be awarded the franchise?

We agreed in principle to give the company the franchise, subject to successful negotiations. As I said in my reply, the negotiations have now been substantially concluded and the substance of those conclusions has to be put to Government at this stage. It is up to them to decide whether they should give a commitment and enter into a contract with this company.