Results 39,161-39,180 of 40,897 for speaker:Simon Coveney

Broadcasting Bill 2008 [Seanad]: Report Stage (Resumed) (17 Jun 2009)

Simon Coveney: Will the Minister accept that the whole DTT project will collapse financially because of the absence of a commercial DTT operator on the three remaining multiplexes? Why would anyone pay to switch over to DTT to get a public service digital product when the channels are already free on the analogue system? Why are we forcing RTE to spend a fortune to do this? Until Onevision, or some other...

Broadcasting Bill 2008 [Seanad]: Report Stage (Resumed) (17 Jun 2009)

Simon Coveney: -----as well as the infrastructural costs and so on. I understand what the Minister must do in respect of these amendments because of the uncertainty that now exists. However, I stress that in the absence of getting a commercial operator in place for DTT, the entire project begins to fall flat in its face. If the One Vision proposal is not going to produce a result, we must face up to...

Broadcasting Bill 2008 [Seanad]: Report Stage (Resumed) (17 Jun 2009)

Simon Coveney: It does not have the money to do it. While that is all well and good, there are cost implications.

Broadcasting Bill 2008 [Seanad]: Report Stage (Resumed) (17 Jun 2009)

Simon Coveney: I move amendment No. 129: In page 142, between lines 20 and 21, to insert the following: "140.—(1) The Authority shall prepare a report which shall be completed and laid before the Minister and Joint Oireachtas Committee within 12 months, on the most appropriate and efficient method of public funding for public service broadcasting. The report shall consider the following: (a) the funding...

Broadcasting Bill 2008 [Seanad]: Report Stage (Resumed) (17 Jun 2009)

Simon Coveney: I am trying to remember where we finished our discussion on this.

Broadcasting Bill 2008 [Seanad]: Report Stage (Resumed) (17 Jun 2009)

Simon Coveney: Yes. We debated these amendments, but no final decision was made. My amendments propose the establishment of a code of conduct on alcohol advertising that will give the broadcasting authority the same powers, in terms of alcohol advertising, that the Minister is giving it in terms of junk food advertising for children. I argued that powers that are appropriate to junk food are also...

Broadcasting Bill 2008 [Seanad]: Report Stage (Resumed) (17 Jun 2009)

Simon Coveney: I accept that I will not get anywhere with my alcohol proposals, unfortunately. I would like the Minister to have the final word on my proposals in amendment No. 46, which relates to religious advertising. He is familiar with my arguments in that respect.

Broadcasting Bill 2008 [Seanad]: Report Stage (Resumed) (17 Jun 2009)

Simon Coveney: I move amendment No. 46: In page 46, between lines 40 and 41, to insert the following: "(5) A broadcasting code prepared by the Authority under subsection (2)(j) may prohibit advertising in a broadcasting service of religious advertising considered by the Authority to be intolerant of diversity, or divisive in its content or message, indeed the Authority shall reserve the right to prohibit...

Broadcasting Bill 2008 [Seanad]: Report Stage (Resumed) (17 Jun 2009)

Simon Coveney: This amendment relates to religious advertising and I want to press it.

Broadcasting Bill 2008 [Seanad]: Report Stage (Resumed) (17 Jun 2009)

Simon Coveney: I raised this issue on Committee Stage because it is one about which I feel strongly. I was disappointed the Minister did not bring forward any improved wording in regard to the right of reply of relatives of deceased people. We are talking about cases such as that of the late Liam Lawlor. Following his death, inaccurate, unfair and scurrilous reports were made as to the circumstances...

Broadcasting Bill 2008 [Seanad]: Report Stage (Resumed) (17 Jun 2009)

Simon Coveney: That is unfortunate. I do not say this very often, but the Minister is misguided in this case. The Minister's mention of the BCI code that requests that broadcasters treat the dead with respect misses the point totally. We are talking about reporting, potentially, on the death of a person or actions that took place immediately before his or her death. Are we seriously saying we will not...

Broadcasting Bill 2008 [Seanad]: Report Stage (Resumed) (17 Jun 2009)

Simon Coveney: I move amendment No. 50: In page 53, line 23, after "reply" to insert the following: "and should such a person be deceased, then a family member or legal representative shall have the right of reply on behalf of that deceased person".

Broadcasting Bill 2008 [Seanad]: Report Stage (Resumed) (17 Jun 2009)

Simon Coveney: I welcome the Minister's pragmatic approach in this amendment. We were all agreed on Committee Stage that the provision whereby a person convicted of an offence relating to pirate radio activity would be unable to obtain a licence for up to three years was excessive. Our objective is to encourage people to move from pirate radio into licensed broadcasting. There must be a wrap on the...

Broadcasting Bill 2008 [Seanad]: Report Stage (Resumed) (17 Jun 2009)

Simon Coveney: I move amendment No. 80: In page 95, between lines 8 and 9, to insert the following: "(e) ensure that the corporation acts responsibly in commercial dealings and in a manner that recognises the competitive market for broadcasting activities in Ireland and does not abuse any position of market dominance, (f) ensure that any contract between the corporation and an individual or company for...

Broadcasting Bill 2008 [Seanad]: Report Stage (Resumed) (17 Jun 2009)

Simon Coveney: While I agree with what the Minister just said, it surprises me. RTE chases ratings the same as every other channel. It has a public service remit and on current affairs and sport it does a really good job. However, on most of the television outside current affairs it is all about ratings. RTE defends the salaries it pays to its top earners by saying these are the people who deliver the...

Broadcasting Bill 2008 [Seanad]: Report Stage (Resumed) (17 Jun 2009)

Simon Coveney: The information will not even be in it.

Broadcasting Bill 2008 [Seanad]: Report Stage (Resumed) (17 Jun 2009)

Simon Coveney: May I reply on my amendment No. 89 as I will not have a chance to come back on that later?

Broadcasting Bill 2008 [Seanad]: Report Stage (Resumed) (17 Jun 2009)

Simon Coveney: I can do it now as it will not take much time. I suspect the Minister will not accept it. However, I want to make a point. Section 124, which the Minister claims caters for what I am trying to provide in amendment No. 89, does not really deal with it. There is more than a subtle difference between the two. Section 124(8) states: "The Authority shall within a period of not more than 3...

Broadcasting Bill 2008 [Seanad]: Report Stage (Resumed) (17 Jun 2009)

Simon Coveney: It is in the context of whether RTE is adequately funded and not in the broader context of the market.

Broadcasting Bill 2008 [Seanad]: Report Stage (Resumed) (17 Jun 2009)

Simon Coveney: I move amendment No. 83: In page 103, line 34, to delete "statement" and substitute "Charter". We already had this discussion on committee Stage. A charter is much stronger than a statement. A statement is a signal of intent. A charter is a set of rules with which a corporation must comply. A charter which is enforceable is the appropriate term in this section instead of "statement"....