Results 26,761-26,780 of 31,374 for speaker:Eamon Ryan

Seanad: Broadcasting Bill 2008 [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil]: Report and Final Stages (30 Jun 2009)

Eamon Ryan: This is providing a must-offer obligation for RTE or other free-to-air programming to apply to network systems regulated in the State. Where an Irish broadcaster is using such satellite provisions, there is the ability for it to carry Irish free-to-air channels such as RTE. There is a slight technical difference when one is using voice or broadband connection in that it is one-to-one...

Seanad: Broadcasting Bill 2008 [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil]: Report and Final Stages (30 Jun 2009)

Eamon Ryan: The amendments in group 15 develop and clarify the planning and performance measurement framework for public service broadcasters proposed in sections 99, 101, 102 and 124 of the Bill. Amendment No. 177 also requires RTE and TG4 to set out, up front, their programming proposals to meet the social and cultural needs and interests of children in Ireland, including animation and children's...

Seanad: Broadcasting Bill 2008 [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil]: Report and Final Stages (30 Jun 2009)

Eamon Ryan: The amendments in group 16 relate to the commercial activities of public service broadcasters. Amendment No. 181 proposes that, following consultation with the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland, the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources will set the daily time for broadcasting advertisements by RTE and TG4. Amendment No. 186 requires RTE and TG4 to conduct transactions...

Seanad: Broadcasting Bill 2008 [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil]: Report and Final Stages (30 Jun 2009)

Eamon Ryan: The amendments in group 17 aim to address the concerns raised by Deputies and Senators in respect of the need for a multi-annual perspective in the public funding of TG4. Amendment No. 190 allows public service broadcasters to enter into arrangements among themselves to share archive material at cost in pursuit of their public service objectives, a measure that may prove to be of particular...

Seanad: Broadcasting Bill 2008 [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil]: Report and Final Stages (30 Jun 2009)

Eamon Ryan: I thank the Senators for their comments and support for TG4, which I also want to give. The archiving amendment is important so it has flexibility and can continue to tell stories of our nation from archive as well as modern material. There are real issues concerning budget difficulties at the current time and we will have to work with TG4 to see how we can continue such funding or what...

Seanad: Broadcasting Bill 2008 [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil]: Report and Final Stages (30 Jun 2009)

Eamon Ryan: The amendments in group 18 require RTE and TG4 to address in any code of fair trading practice developed under section 112 of the Bill the issue of the duration and exclusivity of rights that they propose to acquire when commissioning programme material from independent producers. Amendment No. 192 reduces from 18 months to 15 months the timeframe for RTE and TG4 to develop their codes. ...

Seanad: Broadcasting Bill 2008 [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil]: Report and Final Stages (30 Jun 2009)

Eamon Ryan: I agree with the Senator's comments. RTE has signalled that intent and we hope to see it carried out in the budgets.

Seanad: Broadcasting Bill 2008 [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil]: Report and Final Stages (30 Jun 2009)

Eamon Ryan: The amendments in group 19 relate to wireless telegraphy matters. Amendment No. 281, as advised by Parliamentary Counsel, creates two collective citations which allow for the referencing in the Bill and in future legislation, in a single phrase, of (a) wireless telegraphy legislation and (b) broadcasting offences legislation. Amendments Nos. 227, 234 to 236, inclusive, 238 and 240 to 242,...

Seanad: Broadcasting Bill 2008 [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil]: Report and Final Stages (30 Jun 2009)

Eamon Ryan: Amendment No. 230 in group 20 sets targets for RTE in respect of the timeline for the roll-out the public service DTT multiplexes. Amendment No. 253 empowers the Minister, by himself or in conjunction with others, to manage the analogue switch off process by promoting co-operation between key stakeholders in the switch off process, commissioning research regarding analogue switch off,...

Seanad: Broadcasting Bill 2008 [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil]: Report and Final Stages (30 Jun 2009)

Eamon Ryan: Senator O'Toole has made an interesting point. However, we do not have a satellite over which we have control. The reason we need the DTT multiplexes is to allow us switch off our analogue system but still retain control through our masts and transmission system for free to air and other programming. It is of strategic interest for the State to have such a transmission system and I am very...

Seanad: Broadcasting Bill 2008 [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil]: Report and Final Stages (30 Jun 2009)

Eamon Ryan: The amendments in group 21 relate to the television licence regime. Amendment No. 261 caters for the identification of licences which may have been issued via the new TV licence website, which was successfully launched by An Post this year, rather than being issued at a particular post office branch. Amendment No. 267 is proposed to clarify the timelines with respect to which a fixed payment...

Seanad: Broadcasting Bill 2008 [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil]: Report and Final Stages (30 Jun 2009)

Eamon Ryan: There are inefficiencies or costs involved but it is successfully bringing in €200 million per year to help fund public service broadcasting. The public service broadcaster itself, when asked in committee whether it would great rid of it, ultimately said that, while it would be critical of some of the costs involved, it would not get rid of it. The fee provides a real and important...

Seanad: Broadcasting Bill 2008 [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil]: Report and Final Stages (30 Jun 2009)

Eamon Ryan: The amendments in group 22 amend the provisions of the broadcasting fund by increasing the percentage of net television licence income allocated to the broadcasting fund from 5% to 7%; providing that the broadcasting fund can fund new television or radio programmes which raise public awareness and understanding of global issues impacting on the State and countries other than the State;...

Seanad: Broadcasting Bill 2008 [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil]: Report and Final Stages (30 Jun 2009)

Eamon Ryan: Amendment No. 291 in group 23 provides for change in copyright law to allow commercial DTT platform providers the same opportunities as cable, IPTV and MMDS operators and on similar terms with a view to ensuring the speedy rollout of a digital terrestrial television service in Ireland in the context of the switch-off of analogue television services in Ireland in the near future.

Seanad: Broadcasting Bill 2008 [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil]: Report and Final Stages (30 Jun 2009)

Eamon Ryan: This amendment involves the complex interface between commercial DTT issues, copyright law and broadcasting policy. Accordingly, it was developed in close co-operation with the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment to ensure compatibility with copyright matters. While the amendment was withdrawn on Committee Stage in the Dáil, it was reintroduced on Report Stage as it is...

Seanad: Broadcasting Bill 2008 [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil]: Report and Final Stages (30 Jun 2009)

Eamon Ryan: That is correct. This service or any such programming will not be free-to-air. It is a subscription-based service which must be paid for and it is encrypted to ensure it is not accessible other than to those who have paid for it. The rights are paid for and collected in a similar manner to that which exists for similar closed systems.

Seanad: Broadcasting Bill 2008 [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil]: Report and Final Stages (30 Jun 2009)

Eamon Ryan: Obviously, we seek to abide by and fulfil the necessary copyright regulations but it is a matter of how that is organised. In this case we seek to do it in a way similar to that with which cable, MMDS and IPTV services were dealt.

Seanad: Broadcasting Bill 2008 [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil]: Report and Final Stages (30 Jun 2009)

Eamon Ryan: We received various correspondence from the EU, some of which questioned the nature of the regulations made. However, we are confident there is a precedent for this measure in other European jurisdictions and that it is within the European legal framework. We examined the matter in detail because it was a contentious issue. We would not have proposed it if we did not believe it was...

Seanad: Broadcasting Bill 2008 [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil]: Report and Final Stages (30 Jun 2009)

Eamon Ryan: I thank the Members. The Bill started in the Seanad with a good debate and amendments from Senators O'Reilly, O'Toole and others. It has been a rather long but fruitful process and one hopes it will lead to real benefits. It is an important area and the quality of our broadcasting is crucial to our democracy and to the republic. Sometimes it is difficult for politicians to intervene or to...

Seanad: Broadcasting Bill 2008 [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil]: Report and Final Stages (30 Jun 2009)

Eamon Ryan: I am pleased to return to the Seanad to discuss the Bill which was initiated here. I will deal with each grouping of amendments. My contribution will be long and detailed and I ask Members to bear with me. Group 1 amendments relate principally to the core definitions in section 2 of the Bill. Amendment No. 1 deals with the definition of broadcasting service to bring it into line with the...