Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Civil Engagement Group for putting forward this amendment. It is grouped with No. 2. I cannot accept them as both relate to amendments associated with references to the name of the Digital Services Co-ordinator in Ireland, which is Coimisiún na Meán. This new body was established in 2023 under the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media through the amendment of the Broadcasting Act 2009. Amendment No. 1 proposes that the definition be included that "an Coimisiún" means Coimisiún na Meán. However, the term "an Coimisiún" is not used in the Bill and so such a definition would not serve a purpose.

Amendment No. 2 proposes text be inserted to state that "coimisiún" means Coimisiún na Meán. In the Bill, Coimisiún na Meán is being provided with extended powers to implement the digital services regulation, DSR. These powers are being conferred through amendment of the Broadcasting Act 2009, as amended in 2022. The Broadcasting Act 2009, as amended in 2022, provides in section 6 of Part 2 that the body "which shall be known as Coimisiún na Meán [will be] (in this Act referred to as the "Commission")". Thus, the definition the Senator is proposing already exists in the Broadcasting Act 2009, as amended. The Bill we are discussing is technical and needs to be read in conjunction with the Broadcasting Act, as amended, and the DSR. However, the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media is currently working towards ensuring the Broadcasting Act only refers to Coimisiún na Meán in the Irish language and that will also deal with both amendments.