Seán Canney (Galway East, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Deputy for the question. Public service broadcasting is provided for in Part 7 of the Broadcasting Act 2009. The Act sets out the remit, obligations and principal objects of the public service broadcasting corporations, RTÉ and TG4, and their statutory obligations. As set out in sections 114 and 118 of the Act, both public service broadcasters are statutorily required to provide a comprehensive range of programmes that reflect the cultural diversity of the whole island of Ireland. As such, Irish culture is reflected across the full range of public service broadcasting channels and is not limited to a single service or station. The role of public service broadcasting is to provide a range of programming that entertains, informs and educates, provides coverage of sporting, religious and cultural activities and caters for the expectations of the community in general, as well as members of communities with special or minority interests. TG4 has a particular obligation to reflect the cultural diversity of the whole island of Ireland through the Irish language. This content is also made available to Irish communities outside of Ireland. Section 98 provides that RTÉ and TG4 shall be independent in the pursuit of these objectives. As such, the Minister has no function in RTÉ's or TG4’s management of their day-to-day affairs or editorial decisions about programming. However, under section 103 of the Act, where a public service broadcasting corporation wishes to increase or vary the number of television or sound broadcasting channels it operates, it requires the consent of the Minister. No such request is to hand at present.

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