Noel Dempsey (Meath, Fianna Fail)

Work is continuing on the development of legislative proposals that will form the basis of a new broadcasting Bill. The priority issues to be addressed by the legislative proposals are the establishment of a single content regulator for both private and public service broadcasters as recommended by the forum on broadcasting, the establishment of RTE as a commercial company under the Companies Acts 1963 to 2003, the provision of a statutory mechanism for future adjustments to the level of the television licence fee, and the development of the right of reply mechanism allowing persons whose reputation and good name have been damaged by an assertion of incorrect facts in a television or radio programme to gain redress speedily. It is intended that the single content regulator will combine the existing regulatory functions of the Broadcasting Commission of Ireland and the RTE authority.

With regard to the specific issue of requiring broadcasters to maintain a statutory register of interests, all aspects of broadcasting policy are being considered in the development of the legislative proposals. My intention is to ensure that the broadcasting regulatory environment continues to encourage the maintenance of high quality radio and television services by both independent broadcasters and RTE.

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