TEILIFIS na Gaeilge will provide "an important cultural antidote to the soulless commercial exploitation of audiences", according to the Minister for Arts, Culture and the Gaeltacht.
Mr Higgins told a conference in Dublin yesterday that the new station would also underline "the continuing value of the concept of public service broadcasting, not only in Ireland but elsewhere in Europe".
It marked an important milestone in technological development, as it was the first domestic television station to be based outside Dublin.
"The establishment of Teilifis na Gaeilge is important from the point of view of citizenship, the Irish language, and democracy. As I have said before, the debate on Teilifis na Gaeilge is about national self respect," he said.
Speaking after the conference, Mr Higgins praised RTE's role as "midwife" to the new service and dismissed suggestions that RTE had influenced TnaG's scheduling to suit its own purposes.
He said he was not convinced that up to 25 per cent of the State's population would need to buy new UHF aerials in order to receive the new station, as suggested by an RTE engineer.
RTE reception would improve in the West following the change in broadcast transmissions from VHF to the UHF wavelength. It was incorrect to present this change as happening because of TnaG, as had been suggested in some circles.
"The £30 that would be spent on upgrading to get Teilifis na Gaeilge, is also upgrding your reception for RTE 1 and RTE 2. You're quite right that TnaG is being asked to carry the blame for it", Mr Higgins said.