Gerry Mac Lochlainn

...de la Derry Journal:

RTE must ensure that its service is available in Derry when it converts to digital in 2012, a local councillor has said.

Sinn Féin Councillor Gerry MacLochlainn said that many families across North would not be able to afford SKY Digital after the switchover and urged the national broadcaster to take steps to ensure it is accessible across the island.

"Under provisi\ons of the Good Friday Agreement Irish language Television station TG4 must be made available to viewers in the North,” he said.

He accused RTE and the Irish government of displaying a “partitionist approach” to the meaning of ‘nation’ when it comes to the digital switchover.

"I will be speaking with other national organisation such as the GAA, Conradh na Gaeilge, etc and those political parties who claim the reunification of Ireland as their goal to demand that Minister Eamon Ryan guarantee access to the national Broadcaster in every region of the nation...