Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

We are giving the power to the Minister to prepare and make guidelines. We provide for consultation. It is not in the nature of consultation to list who should be able to get involved. This is a public consultation in respect of guidelines that are in the public interest. The Minister will consult widely. It is not a case of giving a group other than the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland preferential access by listing it in legislation. The approach being taken is to provide the Minister with the authority to develop such guidelines, which is appropriate. If one started to list individuals who ought to be consulted, one would give them an inside track and one would in some way disengage from those whom one does not list. The approach being taken is the proper one.

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