Seanad debates

Wednesday, 11 May 2022

Online Safety and Media Regulation Bill 2022: Committee Stage (Resumed)

 

10:30 am

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

Section 32 of the Broadcasting Act 2009, as amended by section 7 of the Bill, provides that an coimisiún may enter into co-operation agreements with a body established in the State. As I said when speaking to amendment No. 26, this section will enable an coimisiún to engage with a range of body within the State if it will assist an coimisiún to discharge its functions.

The section also provides that an coimisiún may co-operate with bodies outside of the State if they are to provide similar function an coimisiún, as section 32(3) indicates. This may, in particular, include members of the European Regulators Group for Audiovisual Media Services, ERGA. The Broadcasting Authority of Ireland has been an active member of the European regulators group and I expect an coimisiún will maintain this strong tradition by co-operating and working with other European national regulatory authorities. Amendment No. 74 would amend section 32 4) to require that where the commission enters into an agreement to co-operate with a body, it should provide not only the Minister, as provided for in the Bill, but also the relevant Oireachtas joint committee with a copy of the agreement.

I thank the Senator for her amendment and I am absolutely in favour of the oversight of public bodies by the Oireachtas. That is why section 28 of the Broadcasting Act 2009, as amended by section 7 of the Bill, contains strong provisions requiring the chairperson and individual commissioners to appear before an Oireachtas committee to give account of the performance of their functions. I cannot accept the amendment as drafted because reference cannot be made to specific Oireachtas committees in legislation in the manner in the amendment. However, I will reflect on the amendment with a view to further consideration in the context of Report Stage. In doing so, I will consider the appropriate balance to be struck between parliamentary oversight and any provisions that may impinge on the independence of an coimisiún, which is provided for in section 10 of the Broadcasting Act 2009, as amended by section 7 of the Bill.

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