Eamon Ryan (Dublin South, Green Party)

I thank the Deputies opposite for facilitating the passage of this Bill, which has been a long time coming. Broadcasting is one of the most difficult areas to legislate. Its regulation is not easy. It is probably one of the most sensitive and important areas in political life. As we have seen in the detail of the Bill, issues often arise in broadcasting that are highly complex and highly charged when dealing with issues such as religious advertising. It is probably one of the most difficult areas to legislate for, but the legislation is of consequence.

Similarly, the regulation by State authorities of broadcasters is hugely important and sensitive. What one person can see as a good and accurate news report, another person can see as defaming. This Bill provides for a fundamental shift towards having a single regulatory system treating public and independent broadcasters similarly. It also provides for the developing of codes and practices of such regulation in a way that will give the new regulator real authority and a clear sense of direction as to their work. That will include the oversight of funding of public service broadcasters, which is important now that we have a market where there are both independent and public service broadcasters. The Bill provides for the introduction of new codes, strengthening areas such as food advertising and other new codes which we need to continue to enforce and update. It introduces new rights of reply schemes, which are important for people who have been injured by broadcasting. A a range of measures are provided for, the detail of which I will not go into. The legislation will strengthen community broadcasting and broadcasting in general with the potential introduction of Oireachtas TV, an Irish film channel and it will also strengthen the provisions in terms of the development of DTT and IPTV.

We need to constantly return to this broadcasting legislation as it is an area that will continue to evolve as technology changes. I am sure this will not be the last broadcasting Bill and that it will be further amended.

I commend in particular the Department officials who worked long and hard on this legislation, Mr. Kevin O'Brien and Mr. Bill Morrissey who are present and everyone else. They carry out their work in an exemplary fashion. I very much commend them and thank them for their consideration. It is their job to tease out some of these highly complex and difficult issues. I welcome the support for the Bill/

I wish to raise one small procedural issue. I have been asked by the Whips office to raise with the Deputies opposite the possibility of bringing forward the taking of Question Time this afternoon should the debate on the Companies (Amendment) Bill conclude early. The Whips office has asked if we would facilitate them by taking oral questions from approximately 3 p.m. to 4 p.m. rather than at 5.30 p.m. If the debate on the other legislation concludes early and if the Deputies opposite are willing to facilitate this proposal, I would be happy to do so.

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