MOST TV deflector groups have deferred a decision on putting up candidates in the election, pending Government proposals to grant them licences which are due to be published this week.
A meeting in Athlone yesterday of deflector groups in 13 counties called on the Government to grant them "interim licences" pending a full resolution of the controversy.
The secretary of the National Community Television Association, Mr Eric Curtis, told a press conference afterwards that preparations for political action would continue until the interim licences were granted.
"Areas in which we run Dail candidates are being selected, and the candidates will be selected shortly," he said. Counties affected by the deflector shutdown included Donegal, Sligo, Mayo, Galway, Leitrim, Laois, Kilkenny, Offaly, Tipperary, Waterford, Wexford and Cork.
The association's chairman, Mr John Hurley, made a scathing attack on a statement last Thursday by the Fianna Fail spokesman on communications, Mr Seamus Brennan.
"It meant absolutely nothing" he said. "They were talking in terms of allowing competition between existing MMDS and cable companies and the deflector systems.
"But they put in provisos, subject to the complex technical and legal issues being resolved. As far as we are concerned that's a load of rot and a cop out."
The deflector groups had offered Fianna Fail full access to the technical information they had gathered to press their case.
"As regards the legal complications or difficulties, I presume they are referring to the exclusive licences which were given to MMDS and cable companies," he said.
"In actual fact it was Mr Ray Burke who gave those letters and who gave those contracts to the MMDS. So Seamus Brennan and his colleagues would be well aware of those arrangements. They would certainly have all the details and they should be in a position to come up with a solution.
"At this stage we want Fianna Fail to tell us, once and for all are they prepared to license community TV deflector systems when they get back into power? We don't want any prevarication on that," Mr Hurley said.
Meanwhile, representatives of deflector groups in the south east met to consider their position in Waterford last night, following the Athlone meeting.
Feelings in the area are running particularly high following last week's High Court decision which forced deflector operators to shut down throughout the State.
Some of those involved in the south east are pressing for a candidate to be selected, in common with Donegal groups who have already selected Mr Tom Gildea to stand in Donegal South West.
Mr Gildea said yesterday he would give Mr Dukes's proposals "careful consideration" before deciding on whether to proceed or withdraw. He said that up to 6,000 viewers in Donegal depended on the deflector groups for their RTE broadcasts, in addition to the British channels normally carried by them.