COMMUNITY television deflector groups in the south east decided last night to nominate a candidate to contest the Waterford constituency in the forthcoming election.
A committee meeting in Carrick on Suir of the South East Community Deflector Association decided to nominate Mr Dermot Kirwan (30), of Kilmacthomas, to stand as a Community candidate.
Mr Kirwan, who operates the deflector system in the Kilmacthomas and Comeragh Mountains area, has acted as spokesman for the group in the controversy which has arisen since a High Court injunction forced the multi channel deflector service off the air.
Mr Kirwan, along with representatives of other community deflector television systems around the country, had a 90 minute meeting on Wednesday with the Minister for Transport, Energy and Communications, Mr Dukes, to discuss their reservations over his proposed new licensing scheme for multi channel television.
According to reports the meeting was acrimonious, and Mr Dukes was unable to satisfy the concerns of the deflector representatives that they should be allowed to continue providing the community service which they have supplied for the past two decades.
Last night's meeting was also reported to have decided to support the campaign of an independent candidate in South Tipperary, Mr Seamus Healy, who will represent the interests of customers of the local deflector systems.