Noel Dempsey (Meath, Fianna Fail)

I thank Deputies for their contributions on the Bill. The two issues covered by the Bill are of particular interest to Deputies, who will agree that it is vital to ensure that Irish citizens can continue to access a quality, free-to-air broadcasting service. In particular, we need to uphold the right of Irish people living abroad to access Irish public service broadcasting.

I am disappointed at a number of the comments made across the Floor about the delay in the major Broadcasting Bill. This is not of my making and I suggest the Members might look closer to their own committee, whose work on this Bill I acknowledge, but it was supposed to have finished with the Bill by 16 December 2006 when it should have been returned to me. If I had received it at that time there would not have been any undue delay. Unfortunately I have not received the report yet——

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