Eamon Ryan (Dublin South, Green Party)

Section 47 for the first time statutorily requires broadcasters to develop and apply basic procedures in respect of complaints handling, including providing information to the viewing and listening public as to how to go about making a complaint and giving a sense of how long they can expect to wait before receiving a response from the broadcaster. It limits the duty of broadcasters to consider complaints to complaints made in writing and complaints that fall within one of the grounds for complaints to the compliance section set out under section 48. It does so in order to ensure that the burden placed on broadcasters is proportionate and not undue or unnecessary.

Amendment No. 48 proposes to broaden the scope of complaints that must be addressed in the first instance by broadcasters. I fear this amendment would impose an unnecessary open-ended burden on broadcasters, in effect requiring them to consider a wider range of grounds for complaint than currently exists for the Broadcasting Complaints Commission or for its successor, the compliance committee under section 48. As such, I do not propose to accept the amendment.

The Acting Chairman might advise if I may also deal with my amendments Nos. 49, 51 and 52 or if I should return to them later.

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