Pat Rabbitte (Dublin South West, Labour) | Oireachtas source

My latest advice is that I will receive the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland report within the coming four weeks. The Bill on media mergers legislation is being brought through the House by my colleague, the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation. Given it is on the A list of legislation and because, as Deputy Moynihan noted, it has been promised for some time, my understanding is that it will be published this term. The heads of the Bill to revamp competition law, as approved by Government, approve the transfer of print media responsibilities in that regard to my Department and I expect this will be dealt with this term.

I refer to the broadcasting charge which will replace the television licence and which I would like to see introduced at some stage next year. This morning I had the opportunity to speak at the annual conference of the independent broadcasters - inevitably this issue was raised. Although it may not have been readily recognised by everybody some years ago that so many people are now accessing public service content on platforms other than the traditional television set in the corner of the living room, it is now acknowledged this has become a fashion in Irish society. For that reason, and in order to diminish the current level of evasion in paying the television licence, the sooner we can make the transition the better. Even though there is much work yet to be done on this, I would like to see the charge being staggered in some time in 2014.

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