Eamon Ryan (Dublin South, Green Party)

I move amendment No. 28:

In page 35, to delete lines 25 to 28 and substitute the following:

"(ii) RTÉ and TG4 with section 106(3), and

(iii) the Irish Film Channel with section 127(6),

(d) enforce compliance by—

(i) broadcasters with sections 39, 40 and 41,

(ii) RTÉ and TG4 with section 106(3), and

(iii) the Irish Film Channel with section 127(6),".

Having considered the points made by Deputy Coveney on Committee Stage on the funding of the Irish Film Board, I have tabled amendments Nos. 28, 29, 31, 56 and 108, which provide a statutory basis for the Irish film channel to broadcast advertisements subject to certain conditions, including the total daily times for advertising and the maximum period for advertising spots in any three-hour period.

One of the overriding considerations is that film and cinema works must be broadcast uninterrupted. The specific advertising conditions will be subject to the consent of the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources and the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism, following consultation with the broadcasting authority of Ireland. I have also made provision for advertisements by the Referendum Commission to be facilitated and for the Irish film channel to offer preferential rates for advertisements in the Irish language.

Amendment No. 29 is a minor drafting amendment intended to improve the clarity of the text in section 28. Amendment No. 31 requires the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources to lay before the Houses of the Oireachtas reports received from the compliance committee in respect of compliance with the Irish broadcasting codes of broadcasts targeted at Irish audiences by broadcasters located in another EU member state. The amendment addresses concerns inherent in amendment No. 30, as submitted by Deputy Coveney, and as such I do not propose to accept the latter.

Amendment No. 56 provides that the compliance committee of the broadcasting authority of Ireland will monitor and enforce compliance by the Irish film channel with any advertising minutage consents. These amendments address the spirit of amendment No. 109 and as such I do not propose to accept amendment No. 109.

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