Catherine Martin (Dublin Rathdown, Green Party) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Senators for their amendments. I wish to bring to their attention, in terms of issues that I raised about these amendments and the previous group, that section 460 refers to media service rules that enable the media commission to make rules regarding accessibility, including regarding sign language service provision. It also gives effect to the provision of the AV media services to increase accessibility to media services for persons with disabilities.

Amendment No. 15 would add linguistic diversity to other areas of the diversity of the people of the island of Ireland that is set out in the section. This is an important potential addition to the Bill as it recognises the role not only of Irish and English on the island but of all other languages that are spoken and written here, and which now form part of our cultural life. I have concerns about the second part of the amendment as it seeks to change the term to "their diversity of traditions and identities". While I recognise the intent of the amendment, it may have the opposite effect to that intended by restricting the term "diversity" to that of "diversity of traditions and identities" rather than all of the other forms of diversity of the people of the island of Ireland.For that reason, I will not accept the amendment today, but I propose to return to it on Report Stage.

Amendment No. 16 seeks to amendment section 7(2)(c)(iii) of the Broadcasting Act 2009, as inserted by section 7 of the Bill, by adding an additional form of diversity. In this case, it would add socioeconomic diversity to the forms of diversity. As the Senators will be aware, the programme for Government contains a commitment to examine the introduction of a new ground of discrimination based on socioeconomic disadvantaged status to the employment, equality and equal status legislation. My colleague, the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth, Deputy O'Gorman, launched a review of the Equality Acts on foot of this commitment. I propose not to accept the amendment today, but I believe it could be a valuable amendment to the Bill. To ensure consistency with the work of my colleague, the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth, I will ask my officials to engage with his officials with a view to allowing further examination on Report Stage.

Amendments Nos. 17 and 18 both amendment section 7(2)(c)(iv) of the Broadcasting Act 2009, as inserted by section 7 of the Bill. Amendment No. 17 inserts a reference to the visible representative of people with disabilities in the broadcasting and on-demand services available in the State. Amendment No. 18 inserts a reference to the right to and importance of cultural participation of people with disabilities. Both amendments would form valuable additions to the Bill. I would like further time to consider the amendments. I propose not to accept them today, but to return to them on Report Stage.

Amendment No. 19 requires that the commission shall endeavour to ensure the regulatory arrangements to support equality, human rights and participation in cultural life. I agree that these are important principles in guiding the work of the commission. I thank the Senators for their amendment. I will not make the amendment today, but I will take it away for further consideration and discussion on Report Stage.