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

Amendments Nos. 12 and 13 address matters raised by Senators Warfield, Ó Donnghaile, Gavan, Boylan, Higgins and Ruane on Committee Stage as regards the representation and participation of people on broadcasting and video-on-demand services.

Section 7(2)(c) of the Broadcasting Act 2009, as amended by section 7 of the Bill, requires that an coimisiún shall endeavour to ensure that broadcasting and video on-demand services available in the State are open, inclusive and pluralistic, bearing in mind various characteristics of the people of Ireland. In this regard, these amendments require coimisiún na meán to bear in mind the participation and representation of the people of the island of Ireland in terms of its policies towards broadcasting and on-demand media services. A distinction is made between participation, which means involvement in the activities of those services, and representation, which means being in programmes made available by those services.

Furthermore, by locating this amendment within the matters regarding the people of the island of Ireland that coimisiún na meán must bear in mind in respect of its policies towards broadcasting and on-demand media services, the amendment covers the participation and representation of all groups of people living on this island. While consideration was given to specifying specific groups or protected characteristics in this amendment, I think it prudent to ensure that the amendment is drafted to cover all the people of our island in all of their diversity in order that there is no implication that any people are omitted by this provision, particularly cultural minorities.

On amendment No. 14, amendment No. 12 addresses the concern regarding the right to and importance of cultural participation, which is a right ultimately set out in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.