Jack Chambers (Dublin West, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Amendment No. 64 seeks to amend section 25 which relates to deposits and charges for services which may be required by the commission.In requiring the commission to seek the approval of the Oireachtas, this amendment would, first of all and as I said earlier, be contrary to Article 30, which provides that member states shall ensure regulatory bodies are functioning independently of their respective governments or of any other public or private body. That is the first issue. By amending section 25 and then requiring Oireachtas approval for every deposit by an applicant for a broadcasting contract would be both impractical and cumbersome. I have already outlined the position regarding the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland relating to contracts. That is the position.