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

Amendment No. 18 addresses a matter raised by Senators Warfield, Ó Donnghaile, Gavan and Boylan during Committee Stage. This amendment, and its consequential amendments Nos. 19 to 22, inclusive, 28, 29 and 129, require coimisiún na meán to promote and encourage the use of the Irish language by communications media operating in the State. In this regard, communications media is defined in the Bill as:

(a) broadcasting services,

(b) audiovisual on-demand media services,

(c) designated online services, or

(d) newspapers or periodicals consisting substantially of news and comment on current affairs;

As such, the amendment places a broad duty on an coimisiún to promote the use of the Irish language, both in terms of business use and content, by media in Ireland. The Bill as initiated had already set out the responsibility of an coimisiún to promote and stimulate the development of programmes in the Irish language, so this amendment is effectively further clarifying the important role an coimisiún will play as regards the promotion of the Irish language.