Alice-Mary Higgins (Independent) | Oireachtas source

Because I accept the Minister's point on the committee, I will not press the amendment but I will bring and press amendments in respect of the derogations. The case was made eloquently by Senator Cassells concerning the danger of slippage into media and broadcasting solely as a product, rather than with a public good purpose. This legislation is meant to transpose the audiovisual directive, which has goals around the cultural and public role of broadcasting, rather than simply its commercial purposes. This is an opportunity to address that for all broadcasters. Otherwise, there is a strong risk of a race to the bottom whereby people do not get news information or current affairs discussion from broadcasters within the State but will be pressed to seek information elsewhere, including from those who have other interests, such as disinformation. I accept the first half of the Minister's concern but the second half in terms of not putting a time limitation on this runs a strong risk of normalising derogations. I reserve the right to bring back an amendment on and I may bring amendments on a limitation on the proportion of licences that can contain a derogation.