Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)

I take it that the aim of the amendment proposed by Senator Finucane is to ensure that in the circumstances in which there is a possible competition issue relating to a contract, the terms of the contract could be brought to the notice of the Competition Authority. I do not consider there is a need for an explicit power in the legislation to achieve this. The Competition Authority has its own powers under the Competition Acts and may act in accordance with the provisions of those Acts, if it so wishes. Accordingly, I do not agree to the amendment.

As stated on Committee Stage in the Dáil, I have no role in relation to the issue of competition between one broadcaster and another. That is the effective remit of the Competition Authority. In the area of commercial advertising – which is not referable to the licence fee increase – if another broadcaster has a complaint, it would be its prerogative to take that complaint to the Competition Authority. There is no provision within the broadcasting legislation, nor do I think there should be, for this to be part of the remit of, for example, the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland.