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

As the Deputy is aware, the Broadcasting Act 2009 was enacted in July 2009 and served to consolidate the vast majority of all previous forms of broadcasting legislation in the State.

While it is the case that I have no immediate plans currently to introduce broadcasting legislation, the continuing development and ultimate implementation of various policy positions in my Department will give rise to the necessity to introduce both new legislation and amending legislation in due course. There are several areas of broadcasting policy that are being considered actively by my Department, including most specifically the question of a broadcasting charge to replace the existing method of funding public service broadcasting. Other areas of broadcasting policy that may necessitate future legislative provision include the issue of media mergers and media ownership in the State, the function of which is to be transferred to my Department in due course, and the application of relevant measures of the audiovisual media services directive on a national level, as well as other matters relating to the continuously evolving broadcasting landscape and the convergence of technologies.

When due consideration has been given to these issues and decisions have been made on policy, legislative measures will follow as appropriate.

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