Seanad debates

Wednesday, 18 June 2008

Broadcasting Bill 2008: Committee Stage (Resumed)

 

9:00 am

Photo of Pearse DohertyPearse Doherty (Sinn Fein)

I move amendment No. 99a:

In page 117, line 35, after "continues" to insert the following:

"and that it be given a set budget for each financial year".

Déileálann an moladh seo le ceist TG4 agus maoiniú TG4. Mar a dúirt mé nuair a bhí muid ag plé seo ar Chéim 2, bhí a fhios ag an Aire ó bhunaíodh TG4 nach raibh an maoiniú cuí curtha ar fáil don stáisiún. Tá an scéal mar an gcéanna le scéimeanna móra a thug dóchas do mhuintir na nGaeltachtaí. Molaim an scéal mór i dtaobh broadcasting de — an dul chun cinn atá déanta ag TG4. Ó thosaigh muid ag plé an Bhille seo, luaigh go leor daoine cláracha éagsúla agus an méid atá déanta ag TG4 ó thaobh an spóirt de agus documentaries agus a leithéid. Tá jab fé leith déanta ag an stáisiún agus tá siad ag déanamh sin gan mórán tacaíochta ó thaobh maoinithe de.

The amendment seeks to add that TG4 continues and that it be given a set budget for each financial year. That is in recognition that TG4 has been underfunded. Every Minister until now has recognised that TG4 is underfunded. It does not state what the set budget would be. An issue which is of concern to me and others who have an interest in TG4, which is an excellent broadcaster, is that before implementing any part of the Bill we need to deal with the shortfall that TG4 is currently experiencing. It has done tremendous work against the odds. Members spoke about the dedication a broadcaster has to sport and the old games of the 1960s. It was TG4 that started to show those elite championship finals a long time ago. It has given scope to independent producers to do their own documentaries through the means of Irish which are some of the best documentaries I have seen on the television screens. It has been a great success story. The Government is committed to TG4 and the Bill ensures its continuation. I would like to hear the Minister of State's response in terms of setting a financial budget for the broadcaster in each financial year.

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