Results 121-140 of 16,849 for speaker:Dermot Ahern

Seanad: Broadcasting (Funding) Bill 2003: Committee Stage. (11 Nov 2003)

Dermot Ahern: The existing current affairs requirements apply to all broadcasters. Part of the commitment given by RTE in the context of its large licence fee increase was that it would increase its current affairs and news programming by a sizeable percentage. Other broadcasters are obliged, under the terms of their licences, to provide a certain level of current affairs output. Senator Mooney said...

Seanad: Broadcasting (Funding) Bill 2003: Committee Stage. (11 Nov 2003)

Dermot Ahern: I agree with the proposal that the Bill should provide the Broadcasting Commission of Ireland with the power to decide from time to time that the fund should be directed at particular categories of broadcasters or programmes. However, I do not propose to accept the amendment because this principle is adequately provided for in section 2(3)(c), which provides that the scheme can provide for a...

Seanad: Broadcasting (Funding) Bill 2003: Committee Stage. (11 Nov 2003)

Dermot Ahern: Again, where a scheme is to be amended, a new scheme will have to be submitted in its place. If that new scheme is approved by the Minister, it will then be laid before the Oireachtas. The amended scheme will become the scheme and the existing section 2(8) will then apply to it as the scheme. I reiterate that I do not believe I should be too prescriptive in legislation about the format of the...

Seanad: Broadcasting (Funding) Bill 2003: Committee Stage. (11 Nov 2003)

Dermot Ahern: I assure Senator O'Meara that we will act in the spirit of her proposal.

Seanad: Broadcasting (Funding) Bill 2003: Committee Stage. (11 Nov 2003)

Dermot Ahern: The Broadcasting Commission of Ireland, in all that it does, is obliged to publish and consult. From my recollection, it has always published on the Internet. Equally, my Department, of all Departments, is the one that puts decisions made on many issues on our website for public consultation. We have discussed this issue in reference to previous legislation and I understand the Senator's...

Seanad: Broadcasting (Funding) Bill 2003: Committee Stage. (11 Nov 2003)

Dermot Ahern: The Senator has argued in favour of his amendment so well that I will consider it for Report Stage.

Seanad: Broadcasting (Funding) Bill 2003: Committee Stage. (11 Nov 2003)

Dermot Ahern: The issue of rights is a business matter for agreement between the producer of the programme in question and those who wish to purchase it and not one we should be delving into in legislation. Rights are an ongoing issue which will probably arise again in new, more significant legislation, namely, the broadcasting authority Bill designed to bring RTE within the remit of an expanded...

Seanad: Broadcasting (Funding) Bill 2003: Committee Stage. (11 Nov 2003)

Dermot Ahern: As regards the first issue, we cannot force, nor is it the intention to force, broadcasters to apply or try to adhere to the criteria laid down in the legislation. I do not envisage, therefore, that the Broadcasting Commission of Ireland will actively canvass some of the obsessively commercial broadcasters, as the Senator described them, notably the pop radio stations, to focus on this...

Seanad: Broadcasting (Funding) Bill 2003: Committee Stage. (11 Nov 2003)

Dermot Ahern: The Bill only deals with the development of policy on archiving, not getting an individual broadcaster to look after archiving. The idea was that it would be a boost for the independent broadcasting sector to start archiving its material. I have no wish to pour cold water on Senator Mooney's proposal but it would take a huge amount of the focus of the BCI if it were required to start...

Seanad: Broadcasting (Funding) Bill 2003: Committee Stage. (11 Nov 2003)

Dermot Ahern: On the two issues dealt with in the amendment, I undertake to come back to them on Report Stage. I accept the spirit of the Senator's amendment. Amendment, by leave, withdrawn. Question proposed: "That section 5 stand part of the Bill."

Seanad: Broadcasting (Funding) Bill 2003: Committee Stage. (11 Nov 2003)

Dermot Ahern: An Post has not made a formal decision. There have been indications that it wishes to get out of non-core business to concentrate on its core business. It has indicated, at least informally, that it is considering getting out of licence fee collection. That would require amending legislation but no formal proposal has come to me or my Department in that respect. If it were to get out of the...

Seanad: Broadcasting (Funding) Bill 2003: Committee Stage. (11 Nov 2003)

Dermot Ahern: That is its opinion, but it remains to be seen. Question put and agreed to. Section 6 agreed to.

Seanad: Broadcasting (Funding) Bill 2003: Committee Stage. (11 Nov 2003)

Dermot Ahern: The effect of the Senator's amendment is that the scheme, irrespective of whether it was a success or failure, would be wound up in seven years. I could not accept that.

Seanad: Broadcasting (Funding) Bill 2003: Committee Stage. (11 Nov 2003)

Dermot Ahern: I accepted earlier that I would come back on Report Stage about the review. A review is already provided for in section 5, which is sufficient. I operate on the principle that if it is not broken, it should not be fixed. Amendment, by leave, withdrawn. Section 7 agreed to. Section 8 agreed to. SECTION 9.

Seanad: Broadcasting (Funding) Bill 2003: Committee Stage. (11 Nov 2003)

Dermot Ahern: The advice I have received is that this legislation is not directly related to some of the legislation quoted. I accept that all the Acts mentioned relate to the broadcasting sector. However, I would do something like that in the Broadcasting Authority Bill rather than in this legislation.

Seanad: Broadcasting (Funding) Bill 2003: Committee Stage. (11 Nov 2003)

Dermot Ahern: Yes, I thought I made that clear. Amendment, by leave, withdrawn. Section 9 agreed to. Title agreed to. Bill reported without amendment.

Seanad: Broadcasting (Funding) Bill 2003: Report and Final Stages. (13 Nov 2003)

Dermot Ahern: I thank Senators for their comments. I will preface my remarks by saying that I am not against the spirit of what Senators are trying to achieve. I genuinely feel that the context in which Senators are trying to amend the legislation is already taken into account in section 2 which sufficiently reflects Irish cultural heritage and experience. Section 2(1)(a)(vii) deals with the Irish...

Seanad: Broadcasting (Funding) Bill 2003: Report and Final Stages. (13 Nov 2003)

Dermot Ahern: No.

Seanad: Broadcasting (Funding) Bill 2003: Report and Final Stages. (13 Nov 2003)

Dermot Ahern: No.

Seanad: Broadcasting (Funding) Bill 2003: Report and Final Stages. (13 Nov 2003)

Dermot Ahern: This reflects my undertaking on Committee Stage to table an amendment regarding publication. I believe that it is in keeping with the spirit of the amendment proposed by Senators Quinn and Henry. This section and the amendment relate to the preparation of schemes by the Broadcasting Commission of Ireland for my approval. I have no doubt that the Broadcasting Commission of Ireland will publish...