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

Amendment No. 7 is intended to address matters raised by Senators Malcolm Byrne, Cassells, Higgins and Ruane on Committee Stage. Section 7(2)(b) of the Broadcasting Act 2009 as amended by section 7 of the Bill requires that, in performing its functions, an coimisiún shall endeavour to ensure that the interests of the public, and the interests of children in particular, are protected. This amendment will further clarify this provision. With regard to the matter of child safety raised by Senators Malcolm Byrne and Cassells, this amendment provides that, in protecting the interests of children, an coimisiún will have particular commitment to the safety of children. As to the matter of promoting the interests of the public and children raised by Senators Higgins and Ruane, I am confident that the inserting the term "commitment" will clarify that coimisiún na meán will both guard and promote the interests of children as regards their safety.

I note that the issue raised by amendment No. 9 tabled by Senators Malcolm Byrne and Cassells is addressed by the amendment I have brought. I set out some of my concerns regarding amendment No. 8 on Committee Stage. I remain of the view that it is not appropriate to highlight the rights of privacy and reputation in relation to the functions of coimisiún na meán. The mechanism to protect and vindicate these rights is set out in other legislative instruments, specifically the Data Protection Act 2018 and the general data protection regulation in relation to privacy and the Defamation Act 2009 in relation to reputation. A reference to those rights may give rise to the expectation or inference that an coimisiún has some specific function in protecting those rights. Accordingly, I do not intend to accept the amendment.