Michael Finucane (Fine Gael)

I move amendment No. 4:

In page 7, subsection (1), line 21, after "arrangement" to insert "and may at his discretion forward the agreement to the Competition Authority".

This amendment suggests that the Minister may, at his discretion, forward a report he receives to the Competition Authority. At a recent meeting of the Joint Committee on Communications, the Marine and Natural Resources, I asked the Minister about advertising. It is claimed by TV3 that RTE 1 often engages in predatory advertising. The Minister said at the time that he did not have any role in the matter and that responsibility for it lies with the Competition Authority. However, in light of the recent increase in licence fees it received, RTE should be asked to adhere to a code of good and fair conduct. There could be a role for the Minister in certain instances, if there was a doubt in his mind, to send it on to the Competition Authority at his discretion. I ask the Minister to accept the spirit of the amendment because it is put down in good faith. There may at times be decisions in respect of which the Competition Authority might become involved.