Alice-Mary Higgins (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I am concerned about what I believe is an excessive reliance on the Broadcasting Act. We need an acknowledgement that we are not dealing with the exact same thing. Simply taking the fact that a previous piece of legislation exists in terms of the 2009 Act, we should legislate for what we know to be the world and its concerns rather than simply following through on measures from a previous piece of legislation. I am concerned by a general pattern of, in effect, transposing measures developed in terms of broadcasting and not considering whether they apply relevantly and are as good as they could be. Legislation is improved all the time, otherwise we would all still be dealing with UK directives from the 1800s.It is new legislation and I think we can and should do better. My amendment is particularly important because it allows for a sensitivity to the subject matter as well as the audience. The measure, as currently set out, only looks to the convictions or feelings of the audience. Many can speak to the embedded prejudice in Irish society. I am sure my colleague, Senator Flynn, has spoken to it on many occasions. We have many deep-seated prejudices and convictions within Irish society. If that is what the broadcaster has to respond to, then how do we move on and deal with a sensitive new subject? How do we deal with something that might allow us to move forward? I regret that the Minister is not able to accept this amendment.