Alice-Mary Higgins (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I move amendment No. 72:

In page 37, line 14, after “rules” to insert the following: “and shall identify specific barriers to accessing audiovisual media services for people with disabilities along with possible mitigation measures”.

This deals with the annual report which addresses the issue of the accessibility of audiovisual media services to persons with a disability. We had this discussion in our previous debate on the Bill. The question was not simply about accessibility but also identifying specific barriers. My amendment would elaborate on that report and look to the identification of specific barriers to the accessing of audiovisual services for persons with disabilities and mitigation measures.

I intend to introduce a further amendment on Report Stage which would ensure that the annual report would not simply look at the issue of access for persons with disability in terms of audiovisual media but would also look at the issue of participation by persons with a disability in respect of audiovisual media. That is a further amendment to section 31(4) that I intend to introduce on Report Stage. In the interim I have simply expanded on the language of the annual report outlined in section 31(4) to cover the identification of specific barriers and the suggestion of potential mitigation measures.