Results 2,881-2,900 of 7,556 for speaker:Catherine Martin

Seanad: Online Safety and Media Regulation Bill 2022: Report Stage (11 Jul 2022)

Catherine Martin: While also addressing a number of amendments tabled by Senators on Committee Stage, the Government amendments in this group give effect to my commitment to explicitly provide for the role of online safety commissioner in the Bill. This was a key recommendation of the report of the Joint Committee on Tourism, Culture, Arts, Sport and Media in its report on the pre-legislative scrutiny of the...

Seanad: Online Safety and Media Regulation Bill 2022: Report Stage (11 Jul 2022)

Catherine Martin: Amendment No. 7 is intended to address matters raised by Senators Malcolm Byrne, Cassells, Higgins and Ruane on Committee Stage. Section 7(2)(b) of the Broadcasting Act 2009 as amended by section 7 of the Bill requires that, in performing its functions, an coimisiún shall endeavour to ensure that the interests of the public, and the interests of children in particular, are protected....

Seanad: Online Safety and Media Regulation Bill 2022: Report Stage (11 Jul 2022)

Catherine Martin: Amendments Nos. 12 and 13 address matters raised by Senators Warfield, Ó Donnghaile, Gavan, Boylan, Higgins and Ruane on Committee Stage as regards the representation and participation of people on broadcasting and video-on-demand services. Section 7(2)(c) of the Broadcasting Act 2009, as amended by section 7 of the Bill, requires that an coimisiún shall endeavour to ensure that...

Seanad: Online Safety and Media Regulation Bill 2022: Report Stage (11 Jul 2022)

Catherine Martin: Amendment No. 16 would require the commission to endeavour to ensure that regulatory arrangements support equality, human rights and participation in cultural life. I agree that these should be important principles in guiding the work of the commission and I believe that these principles are set out in various provisions of the Bill as appropriate. Accordingly, I do not accept this...

Seanad: Online Safety and Media Regulation Bill 2022: Report Stage (11 Jul 2022)

Catherine Martin: Amendment No. 18 addresses a matter raised by Senators Warfield, Ó Donnghaile, Gavan and Boylan during Committee Stage. This amendment, and its consequential amendments Nos. 19 to 22, inclusive, 28, 29 and 129, require coimisiún na meán to promote and encourage the use of the Irish language by communications media operating in the State. In this regard, communications media...

Seanad: Online Safety and Media Regulation Bill 2022: Report Stage (11 Jul 2022)

Catherine Martin: I think the Senator may be speaking to the next grouping.

Seanad: Online Safety and Media Regulation Bill 2022: Report Stage (11 Jul 2022)

Catherine Martin: Amendments Nos. 23 to 25, inclusive, address a number of matters raised by Senators Carrigy, Malcolm Byrne, Cassells, Higgins and Ruane on Committee Stage.As discussed on Committee Stage, section 7(3)(f) of the Broadcasting Act 2009, as inserted by the Bill, sets out the role of an coimisiún in researching, promoting and endorsing educational activities and co-operating with educational...

Seanad: Online Safety and Media Regulation Bill 2022: Report Stage (11 Jul 2022)

Catherine Martin: Amendment No. 30 addresses a number of matters raised by Senators Malcolm Byrne and Shane Cassells on Committee Stage, specifically the suggestion that coimisiún na meán should have regard to the policies of relevant Ministers and the Government regarding the safety of children and the regulation of gambling. This amendment provides for these matters by referring to the relevant...

Seanad: Online Safety and Media Regulation Bill 2022: Report Stage (11 Jul 2022)

Catherine Martin: If it is a published policy then the Government must have regard to it. Does that clarify it?

Seanad: Online Safety and Media Regulation Bill 2022: Report Stage (11 Jul 2022)

Catherine Martin: If it is a published policy by Government, then yes.

Seanad: Online Safety and Media Regulation Bill 2022: Report Stage (11 Jul 2022)

Catherine Martin: I thank the Senator for amendments Nos. 41 to 43, inclusive. The posts of commissioner and executive chair of Coimisiún na Meán will be vitally important. They will collectively constitute an coimisiún itself and ultimately be responsible for the decisions that it will take. It is important to note at the outset that the commissioners are not simply equivalent to board...

Seanad: Online Safety and Media Regulation Bill 2022: Report Stage (11 Jul 2022)

Catherine Martin: Amendment No. 56 addresses a matter raised by Senators Malcolm Byrne and Cassells on Committee Stage. Its purpose is to require coimisiún na mean to establish a youth advisory committee as one of its advisory committees. In the drafting of the amendment, it was considered the age group the committee should represent should be those under 25 years of age including children, and that at...

Seanad: Online Safety and Media Regulation Bill 2022: Report Stage (11 Jul 2022)

Catherine Martin: Amendment No. 59 addresses a matter raised by Senators Higgins and Ruane on Committee Stage to explicitly require coimisiún na meán to have regard to the effective use of its resources as well as the economic and efficient use of resources in preparing its statement of strategy and work programme. While section 27(1)(c) of the Broadcasting Act 2009, as amended by the Bill, sets out...

Seanad: Online Safety and Media Regulation Bill 2022: Report Stage (11 Jul 2022)

Catherine Martin: Amendment No. 60 addresses a matter raised by Senators Higgins and Ruane on Committee Stage regarding a requirement for coimisiún na meán, on the direction of the Minister, to provide its statement of strategy to relevant Oireachtas committees. This will allow the strategy statement to multiple Oireachtas committees where, for example, an coimisiún may be fulfilling functions...

Seanad: Online Safety and Media Regulation Bill 2022: Report Stage (11 Jul 2022)

Catherine Martin: Amendment No. 64 and those that are consequential to it, namely, amendments Nos. 65 to 67, inclusive, address a matter raised by Senator Higgins and Ruane on Committee Stage regarding the notification of a person when his or her personal data is disclosed by an coimisiún. Section 33 of the Broadcasting Act 2009, as amended by this Bill, sets out the circumstances in which and the bodies...

Seanad: Online Safety and Media Regulation Bill 2022: Report Stage (11 Jul 2022)

Catherine Martin: As I set out on Committee Stage, I would be concerned that, as drafted, this amendment would have the unintended consequence of preventing an employee of an coimisiún from seeking to influence any considerations of an coimisiún regarding the contract of that employee. This amendment would seem to prevent employees from representing their interests to an coimisiún, their...

Seanad: Online Safety and Media Regulation Bill 2022: Report Stage (11 Jul 2022)

Catherine Martin: I thank the Senator for the amendment but the figure of €2 million is derived from the definition of a media business set out in Part 3 A of the Competition Act, as amended, which provides for a framework by which we assess media mergers in the State. For reasons of consistency and proportionality, we should continue to use this figure. I cannot accept the Senator’s amendment.

Seanad: Online Safety and Media Regulation Bill 2022: Report Stage (11 Jul 2022)

Catherine Martin: Regarding amendments Nos. 75 and 76, I am still considering this matter in the context of bringing a possible amendment on Dáil Committee Stage. The Senator made some important points regarding the use of the term "harm or offence". My officials are consulting the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland regarding the existing practical operation of this provision. It will be important that...

Seanad: Online Safety and Media Regulation Bill 2022: Report Stage (11 Jul 2022)

Catherine Martin: I thank the Senators for their amendments. On the commercial communications for gambling, given that the gambling authority of Ireland to be established by the gambling regulation Bill will issue codes in respect of advertising, including in relation to online gambling, I do not propose to accept amendments Nos. 80, 93 or 109. On the issue of speculative financial activities, I note that...

Seanad: Online Safety and Media Regulation Bill 2022: Report Stage (11 Jul 2022)

Catherine Martin: I thank the Senator for his amendment. As I set out on Committee Stage, I acknowledge that the use of the term "party political programme" rather than "party political broadcast", may give rise to some interpretative confusion if it is not clarified. In the Bill as initiated, the term "party political programme" was used instead of "party political broadcast" to ensure that the relevant...