Seán Power (Kildare South, Fianna Fail)

I thank the Deputies who have spoken during this debate for their valuable contributions and constructive approach.

The general thrust of this Bill is to ensure a regulatory environment that will sustain and develop the broadcasting sector in Ireland, and the component parts of that sector, including public service broadcasting, commercial broadcasting, community broadcasting and the independent production sector. The Bill aims to strike a balance between the needs and interests of the various sectoral players, but at its core is a belief that the interests of viewers and listeners are paramount. This is reflected in a number of initiatives, including amendments to the framework for the children's advertising code, as referred to by a number of Members; the requirement for RTE and TG4 to maintain a focus on children's programming; the requirement for RTE and TG4 to maintain audience councils; the enhanced right of reply; and empowering the BAI to conduct audience surveys at the start of the broadcasting contract award process.

I will respond to some of the issues raised by the Deputies during the course of this debate and I acknowledge their very constructive approach. Most of them were very supportive of what we propose and had some suggestions and ideas for improving the Bill in some areas. This was also the case in the Seanad, whose Members were also very supportive of what we are proposing. They dealt with the Bill in a very constructive manner.

A debate on broadcasting standards took place in the Seanad earlier in the week. It arose as a result of audiences feeling they were insulted by comedians on television in recent times. It is obviously difficult to try to strike a balance without interfering too much but it is important that we have certain codes that would be adhered to. There will always be an expectation of standards, particularly when watching the programmes of the national broadcaster. People do not want to be insulted or offended when watching programmes in their own kitchens or sitting rooms.

Deputy Durkan stressed the importance of the development of an Oireachtas channel as a means of making the workings of our democracy transparent and as widely available as possible. I noted the support of Deputies White, Kenneally, Naughten and Creighton for this position and I wholeheartedly agree with them. The recent debate in these Houses on the Credit Institutions (Financial Support) Bill would have drawn a significant viewership, as would Private Members' debates over recent weeks. Making the work of these Houses accessible, even in the case of a small audience with a specialist interest, is a proper public service. None of us expects that thousands of people will be tuning in every day to hear what we are saying in the Houses.

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