Pearse Doherty (Sinn Fein)

Ba mhaith liom cur leis an méid atá ráite ag an Seanadóir Mullen. Molaim na leasuithe atá cláraithe aige. Tá sé ag iarraidh déanamh cinnte de go gcuirfí níos mó cláracha teilifíse agus raidió ar fáil don phobal níos sine. Más féidir linn reachtaíocht a thabhairt isteach ag rá go gcaithfidh 20% de chláracha déileáil le nuacht, srl., tig linn an rud céanna a dhéanamh ó thaobh daoine níos sine ná 65 bliana d'aois de.

The amendments have merit and a figure of 10% is a reasonable quota to lay down given that the proportion of the population aged over 65 years will increase due to demographic change. However, it may be difficult to determine which programmes are aimed at those aged over 65 years and those who are younger than that. I know many people aged over 65 years who enjoy watching "Big Brother". While the programme is not my cup of tea, some of those in the over 65 age group have been drawn in by its addictive nature or whatever types of subliminal messages it sends out. In general, amendment No. 22 is worthy and merits support.

On section 39, I will propose a Report Stage amendment to insert a new subsection requiring all sports coverage to give priority to domestic sports. Regardless of what major domestic fixtures are taking place, whether championship football, League of Ireland soccer or domestic rugby, reports on English Premiership football games tend to be aired first on RTE sports bulletins. It is Chelsea this, Manchester United the rest, with no talk of Wexford or Donegal until later in the bulletin. We need to give priority to domestic sports. There is also great interest in what is happening internationally and news must be reported but tús áite or the top story in terms of reporting sport should be whatever domestic sport is the issue of the day. This may be GAA, soccer, rugby or field sports. I will table an amendment to section 39 on Report Stage.

I support amendment No. 90 to section 101 which deals with the amount of children's programming. Senator Mullen's amendment applies to a number of hours for programmes targeted at the over 65s. I will propose an amendment to section 101 on Report Stage which will call for the insertion of a new section on the nature and number of hours devoted to Irish culture, including sport. There will be a further section on the nature and number of hours devoted to the Irish language. If we can specify the number of hours of children's programmes, I do not see why we cannot do it in respect of the Irish language. The Minister would not accept an earlier amendment dealing with a quota. Quotas can be troublesome and fix matters rigidly. If we can do it for a number of other areas we can do so in respect of the amendment that I will table on Report Stage. I ask the Minister of State to take it into consideration.

I support the three amendments a bhí curtha síos ag an Seanadóir Mullen.