RECENT reports that most Fine Gael TDs oppose Teilifis na Gaeilge are false and misleading according to the party's TD ford Donegal South West, Mr Dinny McGinley.
Mr McGinley, who is chairman of the Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Irish Language, told the committee yesterday that his party continued to give "full support" to the venture.
Speaking after the meeting, Mr McGinley criticised in particular a recent report in the Sunday Tribune. The report purported to show a majority of Fine Gael TDs were opposed to the new station, but this was not true, he said.
Support for an Irish language television stations was included in Fine Gael's election manifestos in 1989 and 1992. "It has #50 figured on a number of occasions at the Fine Gael Ardfheis during my own term as spokesman on the Gaeltacht and language affairs, in Limerick and in Dublin. There were motions in support off Teilifis na Gaeilge and they were always passed unanimously."
A specific commitment to the station was included in the Programme for Government agreed by the three parties in December 1994. The proposed programme was examined by the Fine Gael parliamentary party. "There was no opposition expressed to all there, everyone nodded in agreement with the entire programme, and we're just implementing party policy and Government policy."
Mr McGinley said he had "serious reservations" about the manner in which a report on the issue was presented in the Sunday Tribune. "My opinions were sought and I know a number of others Fine Gael TDs and senators were" canvassed or surveyed as well. I believe those who were in favour of Teilifis na Gaeilge were completely ignored and left out. They only focused on people who had reservations, not about Teilifis na Gaeilge but about costs or whatever. I feel it was slanted."
During the meeting a delegation from TnaG outlined progress to date in setting it up and showed the committee a promotional video. The station's ceannasai or head, Mr Cathal Goan, said its costs were kept under continuous review by the Department of Arts, Culture and the Gaeltacht and the Department of Finance.
These costs were in line with those announced by the Government in January 1995 £16 million capital costs and £10 million annual running costs, with a further one hour's broadcasting a day supplied by RTE from its own budget.
Speaking after the meeting, Mr Goan said "People have said that there is political resistance to it, and there may well be politicians who are doubtful, who think that there are other priorities.
"But it has been a part of each political party's agenda in the last two general elections, it is part of" the Programme for Government of this Government and the previous government, and on the back of that a team of professional broadcasters were brought together to start the service and that's what we're doing," he said.