Liz McManus (Wicklow, Labour)

The House has passed the legislation. There clearly is a difficulty. I have raised the matter before and have not received any clarification as to what is the legal problem. Will the Taoiseach advise the House as to whether the Attorney General has been asked to give an opinion on this, if it has been received, in the event, and what exactly the position is? Does the Taoiseach now intend that there will be new broadcasting legislation brought forward or what are we going to do about the fact that the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland is making major decisions, including budgetary ones, and there is no full board in place? Even the people who have been appointed by the Minister have now had a stay put on their appointments. This is totally undemocratic. It does not allow for scrutiny yet major decisions are being made.

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