Seanad debates

Wednesday, 11 May 2022

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

 

10:30 am

Photo of Fintan WarfieldFintan Warfield (Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I move amendment No. 87.

In page 44, between lines 4 and 5, to insert the following:

“Duties with regard to regional balance

8. The Principal Act is amended by the insertion of the following section after section 39:
“Duties with regard to regional balance

39A.(1) All public bodies engaged in the distribution of State moneys for the production, screening and broadcast of audiovisual or sound content, including but not limited to RTÉ, Teilifís na Gaeilge, Screen Ireland, and the Commission, shall ensure that these funds are distributed equitably and proportionally across the whole island of Ireland with particular regard to the need for regional balance in investment and representation in audiovisual content, screen and sound, including in programmes relating to news and current affairs, culture, and sport, of communities across the whole island.

(2) The Commission shall prepare and publish a report every 3 years from its establishment detailing the regional spread of investment and representation of regional voices and communities by State bodies in audiovisual content, screen and sound across the whole island of Ireland, including specifically in programmes relating to news and current affairs, culture, and sport.

(3) The reports referred to in subsection (2) shall be laid before the Minister, both Houses of the Oireachtas, the Joint Oireachtas Committee, RTÉ, Teilifís na Gaeilge, and Screen Ireland, upon publication, and shall include recommendations on how to improve the regional balance of investment and representation in the subsequent three-year period.”.”.

This amendment is about sharing the public funds from a range of organisations, some of which we have mentioned, but just those organisations. Such funds would be evenly distributed, equitably and proportionately, throughout the whole island of Ireland, with particular regard for regional balance in terms of investment and representation in audiovisual and screen content, sound, news and current affairs, culture and sport. I wonder why this has not been ruled out of order because we are also asking that a report be published every three years.

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