Rónán Mullen (Independent)

I move amendment No. 20:

In page 33, to delete lines 5 to 17 and substitute the following:

"(a) prepare a strategy for the provision of broadcasting services in the State additional to those provided by RTE, TG4, the Houses of the Oireachtas Channel, the Irish Film Channel, and the Heritage Channel,

(b) prepare a strategy statement under section 29(1),

(c) direct the Contract Awards Committee to make arrangements, in accordance with this Act, to invite, consider and recommend to the Authority, and the Authority shall follow such recommendation, proposals for the provision of broadcasting services additional to any broadcasting services provided by RTE, TG4, the Houses of the Oireachtas Channel, the Irish Film Channel and the Heritage Channel under this Act.".

Amendment No. 20 is related to amendments Nos. 22, 62 and 107. All these amendments relate to my proposal to include a heritage channel in the Bill as it provides for two new channels, an Irish film channel and a Houses of the Oireachtas channel, within the broadcasting services to be made available in the new digital service.

Amendments Nos. 30, 59 and 82, relate to the issue of service provision targeted at the needs, interests and tastes of older people. The fact that this group of amendments includes amendments relating to the needs, tastes and issues relating to older people, should not be taken as meaning that the heritage channel aims exclusively to cater for the interests and tastes of older people. I must confess that part of the inspiration for this proposal has been my observations when visiting places such as nursing homes, which have an overall national population of 25,000, many of whom rely on television as a source of company. We might not be happy with the fact that in some places, television may be among the few outlets for people but the fact remains that in general, as people get older, television can be an increasingly important support in their lives.

The proposal to establish a television broadcasting service to be known as the Heritage Channel, is an attempt to redress the current situation where a certain kind of quality television programming that could be regarded as family-friendly viewing or programming that could be watched by any person of any age or background at any hour of the day, is not available on RTE. I have had the experience of being in nursing homes and seeing people being forced to watch "The Bill" or even "Judge Judy", in the late afternoon. This is fine if that is their choice. However, the number of older people in society is increasing and there should be a greater range of choice available to reflect the life experiences of older viewers in particular.

When I proposed this amendment on Committee Stage, I was gratified by the support on all sides of the House and outside in the media and generally. The heritage channel would address the interests, not just of older people but of sectors of the community such as the Irish abroad or tourists visiting the country. It would draw on much of our archival footage and the wonderful documentaries made over the years. However, it would not just be about the past but would also draw on our tremendous cultural and entertainment heritage such as traditional music. I welcome the Minister's proposal for an Irish film channel as this will be attractive to a certain audience. Like Lyric FM and the Houses of the Oireachtas channel, those channels would address the interests of niche groups but they are no less welcome for that. The heritage channel would be of more popular appeal because it would appeal to older people if it focused on their interests and tastes and if it included not only archival programmes but also programmes made for the channel. It could also appeal to people visiting the country and people of all ages would be attracted by programming which would draw on our considerable television archive of documentary and entertainment programmes.

Certain programmes available currently are very good and popular, such as "Reeling in the Years". I do not deny that RTE currently caters to some extent for people who are interested in this type of programming but the problem is they are only hitting it in spots. Why have channels dealing with Irish film and the Houses of the Oireachtas and not something that could appeal to a much wider section of society? Some of these people may be less politically influential but they are certainly large in number.

I would worry that in the broadcasting of programmes and in the decisions made about programme content, there might be excessive attention paid to the economic bottom line, that the classes of people with high spend potential might be more likely to see their tastes reflected in broadcasting output than those who are less lucrative from an advertiser's point of view. It is entirely appropriate that legislators should seek to put the "public" back into public service broadcasting by ensuring there would be at least one channel with programming that anybody could watch at any hour of the day. This is the impetus behind the heritage channel and this is provided for in amendment No. 107. The other amendments are procedural amendments.

I ask the Minister to give favourable consideration to the amendment. This is not solely about the issues, needs and tastes of older persons, many of whom will be quite happy to watch "Judge Judy" and "The Bill", but we wish to guarantee a certain level of high quality programming that is appealing and accessible to a range of people, regardless of their stage of life, independence or vulnerability.

The thrust of the other amendments Nos. 30, 59 and 82, relate to the need to provide for a certain minimum content of programming aimed at people over 65 years. Amendment No. 30 proposes that in the case of sound broadcasting, a minimum of not less than 10% of the broadcasting time should be devoted to the broadcasting of programmes for people over 65 years. Amendment No. 59 is related to the same issue and provides that in considering the suitability of any applicant for the award of a broadcasting contract to provide a broadcasting service in respect of an area in which more than 10% of the population is over 65, the contract awards committee should have particular regard to the needs of this population in respect of programming content. Amendment No. 82 proposes an amendment to section 101 to provide for the inclusion of a clause (b) to provide that the nature and number of hours of television programming aimed at people over 65 years to be broadcast by the corporation, be taken into account in that section.

The question of these amendments relating to programming directed at older people is related to the issue of the heritage channel but the channel goes beyond that issue. I am pleased the Minister has chosen to be specific in this legislation and he has not just left matters to broadcasting codes but rather he has been very specific in section 96, which deals with the audience council.

There is specific mention made of children, their interests, needs and tastes and a provision for consultation on these matters. I am pleased the Minister takes a personal interest in the advertising of junk food and he has rightly brought that issue onto the agenda with this Bill. Once there are specific proposals about these matters, if one is not specific about other equally important matters, by implication they are deemed to be less important. We should not leave it to the discretion of RTE, in the case of the heritage channel, to make that decision as to whether that would be suitable programming. Our job is to legislate and to have regard to the interests of the entire community, not just those who are economically powerful. We must listen carefully to what are their needs and try to specify them in this legislation. On that basis I ask the Minister for a favourable response. Míle buíochas.