asked the Minister for Communications if he will outline the discussions he has had with television relay companies and Cablelink in particular, regarding charges for extra satellite channels; if he has approved plans for Cablelink in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

I have not had any discussion with the cable industry on the specific question of charging for satellite channels although companies were undoubtedly aware from my public statements in the matter and in particular from my reply to a question on this issue on 15 October last (see Dáil Report of same date, columns 427-429) of my view that any additional charges that might be levied for these services should be levied on the basis that only those who wish to receive them would be required to pay.

Cable companies who were relaying satellite services on an experimental basis for the most of 1987 were invited to submit proposals relating to the permanent relay of these services. Cablelink put forward proposals to continue for the time being to relay at no extra charge a number of services — Sky Channel, Super Channel and MTV — which they get free and that they would enter into negotiations with a number of other channels who normally require a payment for access to their services, with a view to continuing to relay those services on the same "no extra-charge" basis. They also indicated their intention to explore the possibility of introducing a film channel on a subscription basis.

The Cork cable company proposed to relay Sky, Super, TV5 (French Channel) and RAI (Italian channel) at no extra charge and that it would be developing a package comprising various other satellite services which it would offer on a discretionary basis to subscribers at an extra charge.

I approved these proposals and also outlined the general conditions which would apply to the relay of these services.

I thank the Minister for the detail of his reply. Can the Minister tell us the manner in which the discretion will be operated. Will the customer be obliged to opt out rather than opt in?

The extra channels that I have mentioned in the Dublin area and in the Cork region are at no extra charge. The cable companies will provide a box system to each customer who will then be in a position to press a button thus making a decision to pay for a particular film that is on at a particular hour of the day or night. So the customer will have the right to choose whether to use it or not.