Lynn Ruane (Independent) | Oireachtas source

Amendment No. 64 is really about financial independence. The Bill provides that the Minister may advance moneys to the commission, provided by the Oireachtas, and with the consent of the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform. The Bill does not specify whether any such advancements will be subject to the oversight or approval of both Houses of the Oireachtas, as we see in other legislation relating to State bodies like IHREC, for example. It is not appropriate that the commission would be funded at the discretion of the Government and this amendment seeks to provide an important check and balance in the legislation. The amendment provides that financial advancements to the commission from the Oireachtas would be subject to the independent oversight and approval of both Houses.

In terms of financial independence, it is significant to note that head 40 provides the media commission with the power to impose a levy on regulated entities and further, that head 26 provides that the commission chair would be the Accounting Officer. However, in order to strengthen financial independence, it is submitted that the media commission's grant for budgetary allocation should be subject to a separate vote in the Oireachtas, which is what this amendment seeks to do.