Eamon Ryan (Dublin South, Green Party)

With regard to Deputy McManus's point, proposed subparagraph 26(1)(c) states the authority will have to "liaise and consult with the Communications Regulator in the preparation of the allocation plan for the frequency range dedicated to sound and television broadcasting". Mechanisms set out in detail in section 60 compel the communications regulator to vary any term or condition of a broadcasting licence subject to a range of conditions, for example, "if it appears to it to be necessary so to do in the interest of good radio frequency management". The example the Deputy is citing would fall into this category. Section 60(2)(b) gives the broadcasting authority the right to communicate issues that arise to the communications regulator, thereby resolving problems. We are legislating specifically for the types of mechanisms about which the Deputy is concerned.

Deputy Coveney is correct that a public policy decision must be taken. An individual broadcaster may say it is in its commercial interest to pursue such a policy or plan but it may be in the national or public interest to give direction that a publicly funded broadcast service should be available on as wide a range of networks as possible. As such, we seek such a must-offer obligation in our legislation.

See this speech in context