Sir, - I read with interest your report (February 21st) by Lorna Siggins on the previous day's meeting between a delegation from TnaG and the joint Oireachtas Committee on the Irish language. in the course of the discussion about the reception difficulties experienced by TnaG, reference was made to a minority report on the transmission of TnaG, submitted in August 1993 to the Minister for Arts, Culture and the Gaeltacht.
In reply to queries from the Eamonn O Cuiv TD, with regard to the Minority Report, Cathal Goan (ceannaire, TnaG) said that its recommendations only dealt with reception difficulties in the one Gaeltacht area, Cois Fharraige.
As the author of the minority report, I would like it to be placed on the public record, through the medium of your paper, that it made recommendations with regard to the transmission/reception of TnaG, west of a line from Derry to Cork - the geographical half of the country experiencing most difficulties getting TnaG. It clearly recommended the use of suitable spare VHF transmission channels at Maghera and Mullaghanish main transmitters, to provide a signal for households on existing aerials in most of Munster and South Connaught. It also recommended use of a feasible channel at Truskmore for which international co ordination would need to be sought, so as to extend coverage into north Connaught and north east Ulster.
While I take grave exception to the distortion of my recommendations by the TnaG delegation before an Oireachtas committee, I can only conclude that my findings have not been read or understood by TnaG, because they are technical. I am sure that the TnaG delegation did not intend to mislead the Oireachtas committee, but I take the opportunity to correct the public record.
A pity that my reservations three years ago about the RTE solution for TnaG were not considered seriously. If they had been taken on board then, some action could halve been taken and decisions made. Instead we were served up ostrich like denials that a problem exists.
it is a grave injustice to the fine body of people producing the wonderfully imaginative and high quality programmes for TnaG, that only 40 per cent of people can receive it in Munster, the province with the highest proportion of people interested in watching Irish language TV. I am calling on Michael D. Higgins, the Minister responsible, to set up an independent inquiry with regard to the transmission of TnaG, so that the truth can emerge and some corrective action can be taken. etc.,
BE (Elec),
Regional Technical College,
Galway.