Houses of the Oireachtas Channel
Encyclopedia
Houses of the Oireachtas Channel or informally Oireachtas TV is a public service broadcaster for the two houses of the Oireachtas
(Irish parliament). The channel was created under the Broadcasting Act 2009 for broadcast on the proposed roll out of Irish Digital Terrestrial Television. Currently live broadcasts are available on UPC Ireland
and the Houses of the Oireachtas website, the latter service is provided by Ireland's National Educational and Research Network – HEAnet
. RTÉ
have proposed that the channel share space with RTÉ One Deferred, a time shift channel for RTÉ One
, on Saorview
.
have carried coverage of each of the Houses of the Oireachtas. RTÉ provides a late night round up of with Oireachtas Report
and at noon Leaders Questions. TG4 broadcast live Dail proceedings with their service Dáil Beo and have also provide extensive live coverage of Committee meetings.
In November 2007 the then Taoiseach
Bertie Ahern
announced in the Dáil that he favoured an Oireachtas channel stating that "compared with a lot of tripe that is on TV, the Oireachtas channel would be far better and very interesting." Since the statement the government have moved to make Oireachtas TV a reality on the digital terrestrial platform (Saorview
) in Ireland, and have included it in the Broadcasting Act 2009. Chapter 6 of the Broadcasting Act 2009 clearly sets out the role of the Houses of the Oireachtais Channel. However the Oireachtas Commission have yet to decided when the launch will occur.
On 15 November 2011, Oireachtas TV began broadcasting on UPC Ireland
channel 801, as part of a trial initiative for a period of six months. The trial service is being delivered at no additional cost to the Houses of the Oireachtas or the tax-payer.
Oireachtas
The Oireachtas , sometimes referred to as Oireachtas Éireann, is the "national parliament" or legislature of Ireland. The Oireachtas consists of:*The President of Ireland*The two Houses of the Oireachtas :**Dáil Éireann...
(Irish parliament). The channel was created under the Broadcasting Act 2009 for broadcast on the proposed roll out of Irish Digital Terrestrial Television. Currently live broadcasts are available on UPC Ireland
UPC Ireland
UPC Ireland is Liberty Global Europe's telecommunications operation in Ireland. UPC Ireland is the largest digital cable television provider within the Republic of Ireland. As of September 2010 the company offers broadband internet, digital television and digital telephony to over 531,000 customers...
and the Houses of the Oireachtas website, the latter service is provided by Ireland's National Educational and Research Network – HEAnet
HEAnet
HEAnet is the Irish NREN; it provides high-speed Internet access to academic institutions in Ireland direct to European and USA networks...
. RTÉ
Raidió Teilifís Éireann
Raidió Teilifís Éireann is a semi-state company and the public service broadcaster of Ireland. It both produces programmes and broadcasts them on television, radio and the Internet. The radio service began on January 1, 1926, while regular television broadcasts began on December 31, 1961, making...
have proposed that the channel share space with RTÉ One Deferred, a time shift channel for RTÉ One
RTÉ One
RTÉ One is the flagship television channel of Raidió Teilifís Éireann , and it is the most popular and most watched television channel in Ireland. It was launched as Telefís Éireann on 31 December 1961, it was renamed RTÉ Television in 1966, and it was renamed as RTÉ One upon the launch of RTÉ...
, on Saorview
Saorview
Saorview is the national free-to-air digital terrestrial television service in Republic of Ireland.The service began operation on 29 October 2010 on a trial basis with full launch on 26 May 2011. By legislation it was required to be available to approximately 90% of the population by end of...
.
History
Oireachtas TV has been available online for a number of years and both state public service broadcasters RTÉ and TG4TG4
TG4 is a public service broadcaster for Irish language speakers. The channel has been on-air since 31 October 1996 in the Republic of Ireland and since April 2005 in Northern Ireland....
have carried coverage of each of the Houses of the Oireachtas. RTÉ provides a late night round up of with Oireachtas Report
Oireachtas Report
Oireachtas Report is an Irish political television programme broadcast on RTÉ One. Presented by Conor Hunt, Joe MagRaoillaigh and Sandra Hurley one per edition, it transmits nightly highlights of that day's proceedings in the national parliament of Ireland, known as the Oireachtas.-External links:*...
and at noon Leaders Questions. TG4 broadcast live Dail proceedings with their service Dáil Beo and have also provide extensive live coverage of Committee meetings.
In November 2007 the then Taoiseach
Taoiseach
The Taoiseach is the head of government or prime minister of Ireland. The Taoiseach is appointed by the President upon the nomination of Dáil Éireann, the lower house of the Oireachtas , and must, in order to remain in office, retain the support of a majority in the Dáil.The current Taoiseach is...
Bertie Ahern
Bertie Ahern
Patrick Bartholomew "Bertie" Ahern is a former Irish politician who served as Taoiseach of Ireland from 26 June 1997 to 7 May 2008....
announced in the Dáil that he favoured an Oireachtas channel stating that "compared with a lot of tripe that is on TV, the Oireachtas channel would be far better and very interesting." Since the statement the government have moved to make Oireachtas TV a reality on the digital terrestrial platform (Saorview
Saorview
Saorview is the national free-to-air digital terrestrial television service in Republic of Ireland.The service began operation on 29 October 2010 on a trial basis with full launch on 26 May 2011. By legislation it was required to be available to approximately 90% of the population by end of...
) in Ireland, and have included it in the Broadcasting Act 2009. Chapter 6 of the Broadcasting Act 2009 clearly sets out the role of the Houses of the Oireachtais Channel. However the Oireachtas Commission have yet to decided when the launch will occur.
On 15 November 2011, Oireachtas TV began broadcasting on UPC Ireland
UPC Ireland
UPC Ireland is Liberty Global Europe's telecommunications operation in Ireland. UPC Ireland is the largest digital cable television provider within the Republic of Ireland. As of September 2010 the company offers broadband internet, digital television and digital telephony to over 531,000 customers...
channel 801, as part of a trial initiative for a period of six months. The trial service is being delivered at no additional cost to the Houses of the Oireachtas or the tax-payer.