Dáil debates
Wednesday, 20 October 2010
Priority Questions
EU Directives
3:00 pm
Liz McManus (Wicklow, Labour)
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Question 48: To ask the Minister for Communications; Energy and Natural Resources to provide an update on the report from an independent consultant into free to air rugby matches; the timeframe for publication of this report; when he expects to make a decision on this issue; when he expects to make a decision on this issue; the cost of this report; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37998/10]
Eamon Ryan (Dublin South, Green Party)
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The audiovisual media services, AVMS, directive provides that member states of the European Union may designate sporting and cultural events of major importance to society as free-to-air. The Broadcasting Act 2009, having transposed the AVMS directive, sets down the statutory process for designating events free-to-air.
On 30 April, I set out proposals for a limited extension of the sporting events which are designated free-to-air and invited submissions on those proposals. I also decided that the final decision on this matter will be informed by an independent analysis of the financial and other impacts of listing each event. Indecon International Economic Consultants have been commissioned to do this report and are currently finalising the report for me in this matter. I expect that this report will be delivered to me before the end of the month. The value of the contract is â¬73,387.
After consideration of the Indecon report and other submissions received, I will revert to Government with definitive proposals. Subsequent to Government consideration of the matter I am required under the audiovisual media services directive to inform the EU Commission of any changes to the events to be designated. The Commission has a period of three months to verify that the list is compatible with Community law, to notify other member states and to seek the opinion of the committee established pursuant to the directive. Any designation will only be effective after the Commission has published the list in the Official Journal of the European Union.
Liz McManus (Wicklow, Labour)
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I am surprised that the Minister has still not received the report; in fact I find it hard to believe. The Minister made this announcement in April, appointed consultants at the beginning of August and promised that the report would be completed within eight weeks and would be followed by a debate. He has now told us that the report has not even been completed, which is the Minister's responsibility. For a job that was supposed to take only eight weeks, â¬73,000 is good money. When one looks at the Estimates for the Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources, the Minister seems to be very flaithiúlach when it comes to employing consultants. One of the few items in the Department's Estimates that increased was the cost of consultants. I believe it increased by 140%.
It appears that the Minister commissioned a report after an announcement he made to make certain events free-to-air, but at the time he made the announcement he did not indicate he would need to employ consultants. Why has it taken so long? How far has it got? Has the Minister or any of his officials seen a draft report? Has any of that work been done? Will it deal with the IRFU concerns about the cost? The IRFU has stated that it will cost between â¬10 million and â¬12 million. Does the Minister have any comment to make on that? He seems to be walking backwards rather than walking forwards on this matter. Concerns have been expressed about costs to be incurred, for example, by RTE in the context of the Minister's decision. Since we do not have a report, perhaps he might tell us where we are, considering the promises and undertakings he made to the public who have an interest in the matter, but are not getting answers.
Eamon Ryan (Dublin South, Green Party)
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I expect to have the report very shortly and will then bring it to Government to allow my Government colleagues to share their views at which point we will make a call on it and present it to Brussels as set out in the legislative process. This is always a process that takes time, which is right because it is important. I am very confident that the consultants who are being very thorough and exacting in their work are providing very good value for money. It is important to get it right in terms of getting the Irish public's position to ascertain the real importance of these sports in our cultural life. While that takes time and a certain amount of money, it is important to get it right because they are important events. It is important that we do it in a proper process that is legal and that we can bring to Brussels as the final arbiter. We need to be confident that we have followed the correct legal process, which takes time and costs a certain amount of money, but is a process over which I would stand as it is serving us very well.
Liz McManus (Wicklow, Labour)
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The Minister has not answered the questions I asked him.
Leo VaradkarLiz McManus (Wicklow, Labour)
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He has talked about a process he created in order to give himself some cover and now he will not give any answers. Has the draft report been seen by him or the officials in his Department? That was my first question. Does it deal with IRFU's concerns and the RTE issue? I will quote the Minister as he seems to be suffering from amnesia. On 25 August he said he expected to come back to his Government colleagues early in the autumn with the analysis done followed by a further lengthy debate on the issue and a decision fairly quickly. He is no longer talking about a lengthy debate but going straight to Brussels. It seems the Minister is wavering on this. He made a decision and an announcement but he has been rowing back from that decision. He should answer the questions that people want answered.
Eamon Ryan (Dublin South, Green Party)
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First, I have not seen that report nor, I understand, has my Department.
Eamon Ryan (Dublin South, Green Party)
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It will be one or two weeks late but once we have it I will then bring it to Government and then, as appropriate, bring it to Brussels. That is the process upon which we are set. The report is a week or two late but that is a timeline I am happy to bear-----
Séamus Kirk (Louth, Ceann Comhairle)
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We are moving on to the next question.
Liz McManus (Wicklow, Labour)
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On a point of information for the Minister-----
Liz McManus (Wicklow, Labour)
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-----this is mid-October, not early autumn.
Liz McManus (Wicklow, Labour)
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The Minister appointed the consultants and, at the very least, since they are being paid nice money-----
Séamus Kirk (Louth, Ceann Comhairle)
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The Deputy will have to find another way to revisit this matter.
Liz McManus (Wicklow, Labour)
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-----to produce a report, they should do so on time.