Kells TV reception issue raised in Seanad

The impact of the new Garda communications system on TV receptions in Kells has been raised in the Seanad by Senator Dominic Hannigan. The Tetra system is a new digital mobile radio service intended for use by the emergency services. It is intended that all emergency services in Ireland, including the Garda Siochana, the fire service, the ambulance service, the coast guard and the mountain rescue service, will all use the technology. However, the new system has led to some people having problems getting reception for some television channels, with some Kells residents complaining to Senator Hannigan that the system is interfering with their TV signal. Speaking on a debate on the issue, Senator Hannigan noted that the Tetra system has meant that some people living close to Garda stations have had their reception interfered with. A fix is available, in the form of a new masthead filter but, according to Senator Hannigan "the fix comes at a cost, particularly for the less well-off in society. It is another expense that they can ill afford in these hard economic times. It is not just about the cost of the filter box that rectifies the problem, but the cost of fitting that device. That could run to three, four or five times the cost of the filter device. It is a cost that nobody expected to pay," he said. He suggested that the company, Tetra Ireland, should look at buying these filters in bulk and providing them to the people affected, at cost price. Minister of State for Communications, Deputy Conor Lenihan, told Senator Hannigan that he would contact Tetra Ireland's executives and ask them to meet him to see if they could assist where there are genuine cases of less well-off people having to cope with big bills in the area. Minister Lenihan then invited Senator Hannigan to join him at that meeting so that they could make the points directly to the company. The Labour Party senator concluded by encouraging anybody around Kells who is experiencing problems with their television reception to contact his office. "We can point them in the right direction to fix the problem," he said.