Catherine Martin (Dublin Rathdown, Green Party) | Oireachtas source

I move amendment No. 293:

In page 126, between lines 24 and 25, to insert the following: “(b) by the insertion of the following definition after the definition of “free television service”;

“ 'local sound broadcaster' means a person holding a sound broadcasting contract under section 63—

(a) which is a contract for the provision of a sound broadcasting service in an area consisting of a part, but not the whole, of the State, and

(b) which is not a contract under section 64 or 68(1)(b);”,”.

The objective of the Government amendments in this grouping, namely, amendments Nos. 293, 295, 296, 298, 302, 303, 305 and 321, is to ensure that local sound broadcasters can avail of the scheme for professional journalistic practices that is being provided for in the Bill. The Bill as published would have restricted the scheme to community sound broadcasters. This scheme has been under consideration for some time, and I understand may have originated when Deputy Naughten was Minister, a fact I want to acknowledge today. The scheme formed part of the Broadcasting (Amendment) Bill 2019 introduced in the Oireachtas by the then Minister, Deputy Bruton, and was subsequently incorporated into this Bill. Amendment No. 293 inserts a definition of “local sound broadcaster” in order to give effect to the intention to extend the scheme to local broadcasters. In practice, the definition of "local" includes any contract for a sound broadcasting service in an area consisting of a part of the State. Accordingly, I emphasise that the use of term local includes holders of multi-county and regional sound broadcasting licences. These amendments will ensure that local broadcasters can avail of grant funding to provide training or professional development for persons employed by, or providing services to, the broadcaster in relation to promoting good professional journalistic practices.