John Browne (Wexford, Fianna Fail)

I wish to share time with Deputy Eamon Scanlon. I welcome the Bill which is very detailed and seeks to deal with virtually all aspects of broadcasting in this country. As Deputy Connaughton said, it is a return to 1960 when RTE was established. Much legislation passed down the years will be consolidated by this Bill. It has been a long time coming but is very welcome.

A new regulatory authority will replace the Broadcasting Commission of Ireland, BCI, and the Broadcasting Complaints Commission, BCC. The broadcasting authority of Ireland, BAI, will consist of the authority and two independent statutory boards, a contracts award committee and a compliance committee. I am not sure that we need three committees to deal with the implementation of this legislation. Perhaps when the Minister responds he will explain why he devised this rather bureaucratic system of dealing with the Broadcasting Bill. One authority with all-embracing powers would be a more important body than an authority, a contracts committee and a compliance committee. This seems somewhat over-regulated.

I welcome the fact that the Joint Committee on Communications, Energy and Natural Resources, which deals with broadcasting matters, will have an input into future appointments to the boards. The members have relevant knowledge and will offer a major input into the new legislation. I welcome the fact that the Minister recognises the importance of the committee by consulting with it before the board is finalised.

There are also new codes and rules for broadcasters. I have a particular interest in the area of advertising for children. We must have a code of conduct in respect of the advertising of children's toys, food, drinks and other things that can have a detrimental effect on the health of children. From time to time parents raise issues about advertising with me, as I am sure they do with other Deputies. Many consider its timing unsuitable for the programmes. It promotes foodstuffs that are high in sugar content contributing to obesity, as mentioned by Deputy Connaughton. The advertising of children's toys is a bugbear of mine and of a number of people up and down the country. When it comes to the promotion of toys, Christmas has already started. This puts severe pressure on parents who want to buy toys at Christmas time when they have money to do so. They do not want their children to beg them to buy the toys now. The Minister must look seriously at this issue.

Part of the Bill deals with television licences and proposes a range of changes to the current arrangement of television licensing in Ireland I hope this will not be the end of An Post in the operation of television licensing because that organisation has given a good service in collecting television licences. Of course we have the defaulters, the people who, no matter what is done, will not want to pay for their television licence. The Minister's proposal stating that it will be at the discretion of An Post that television licence defaulters should pay a fine and buy a licence rather than proceed to court is a wise one. To introduce an on-the-spot fine for not having a licence followed by the purchase of the licence is a way around the problem. At present, by the time An Post takes the court action and gets the person into court, the court system is clogged up. Therefore, I welcome the fact that the Minister is considering having on-the-spot fines for defaulters combined with purchase of the licence. It is a good suggestion.

We get a good service from RTE 1 and 2 and TG4 and television in general offers good service in this country. RTE comes in for serious criticism from time to time about some of its programmes and about being politically biased. However, for the amount of money expended each year, RTE provides a very good service in this country. From time to time I might not be happy with some decisions the organisation might take or the political lines it might hold but I am a strong supporter of RTE, television and radio. We get good value for money in that area.

Deputy Connaughton mentioned TG4. The station has done tremendous work in promoting Gaelic games off-season. RTE covers these at the height of the season, and TV3 also covered some games this year. However, TG4 does a great job in promoting the club championships, the international rules games and Railway Cup games. Long may that continue. Some of the station's programmes are watched by people such as myself who are not good at the Gaeilge. TG4 promotes Irish culture, Irish language, Irish song and music and that is important.

"Oireachtas Report" was mentioned earlier in respect of the time it is beamed out to the country, which is usually at midnight, 12.30 a.m. or 1 a.m. There is need for a change there but we also need our own channel. There is all-party agreement to examine how the Oireachtas might have its own channel and how it might operate. I know that much discussion is going on in the Ceann Comhairle's office, in the Commission and also in the committee that I chair concerning how we might implement an Oireachtas channel at a reasonable cost. Many new channels are costly but it is essential that we look at having an Oireachtas channel. We could thereby promote politics and bring politics out to the people. That is something all of us try to do in our own way at local level and a channel of our own would certainly help.

There is also an issue about the effects soaps may have. Parents talk about this and I have no answer as I do not watch soaps. Soaps are widely watched at peak time and people tell me that many of them feature cases of rape, murder and suicide from time to time. What effect is this having on young people? Organisations dealing with the welfare of children get very concerned about this issue and the Minister should examine it in terms of its effects on young people.

The advertising of alcohol has been mentioned. It would be hard to stop all such advertising although that decision could be taken. It could also be decided that television advertising should not glamorise drink but then one goes to Croke Park or Gaelic games parks up and down the country, one attends Munster rugby or international matches, or soccer matches, where all the hoardings are advertising drink of every kind. That has an effect on the promotion of drink. I am not sure a total ban on alcohol from television screens will stop young people from drinking. Education is important and we should start with an education programme in our schools about the effects of drink. Although many people believe a complete ban would be a solution, I am unsure of this.

I wish to make a couple of points regarding the Independent Broadcasters of Ireland, IBI, representatives of which I met recently. While it welcomes the Bill in general, it seeks a number of changes to the fast-track application process for radio licences. It seeks to have the licence period changed from seven years. The initial proposal was for a five-year period but the Seanad suggested a seven-year period. However, the IBI suggests that the period should be changed to ten years and the Minister should consider this issue.

The IBI has concerns in respect of digital broadcasting. It has noted the Broadcasting Commission of Ireland, BCI, has no policy at present regarding digital broadcasting for local, regional or national independent radios. Until such time as such a policy is developed, the IBI considers that including provisions in respect of digital broadcasting in the Bill may prove costly and may cause problems regarding adherence for local radio stations. Consequently, it also seeks some changes in this regard.

The IBI also seeks changes in the levy proposed by the Minister. While it is not opposed to the levy per se, it considers that the manner in which it will be implemented should be changed to allow for greater flexibility. Moreover, such a levy only should kick in when radio stations are making a profit. The former Taoiseach removed the 3% levy and the IBI now wonders why the present Government intends to reintroduce it. Apparently, the former Taoiseach, Deputy Bertie Ahern, gave a commitment that it would not be reintroduced. Perhaps the Minister also should consider this issue.

While one cannot legislate for a downturn in the economy, the IBI is highly concerned in this regard at present. It considers that as the economic downturn will lead to fewer advertisements and less income, the levy may not be the most practical measure to take at present. I now wish to give way to my colleague.

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