Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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Question 98: To ask the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources his main intentions for the new broadcasting Bill, to be published in the autumn; the impact the Bill will have on RTE's existing licence fee income or the revenue it generates through advertising; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19891/05]

Noel Dempsey (Meath, Fianna Fail)
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Work is continuing on the development of legislative proposals that will form the basis of a new broadcasting Bill. The priority issues to be addressed by the legislative proposals are the establishment of a single content regulator for both private and public service broadcasters as recommended by the forum on broadcasting; the establishment of RTE as a company under the Companies Acts 1963 to 2003; the provision of a statutory mechanism for future adjustments to the level of the television licence fee; and the development of the right of reply mechanism, allowing persons whose reputation and good name have been damaged by an assertion of incorrect facts in a television or radio programme to gain redress.

While still in development stage, it is not anticipated that the legislative proposals on enactment would significantly impact on RTE's existing levels of licence fee or advertising income. With regard to the provision of a statutory mechanism for future adjustments to the level of the licence fee, the approach under consideration involves reviews by the proposed single content regulator of: on an annual basis the achievement by RTE of its programming and change management commitments; and on a five year basis of the adequacy or otherwise of the licence fee to support public service broadcasting. The output from such reviews would be a recommendation as to an appropriate adjustment to the level of the licence fee. Annual reviews along similar lines were carried out by independent consultants PricewaterhouseCoopers in 2003 and 2004.

Jimmy Deenihan (Kerry North, Fine Gael)
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Question 99: To ask the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources if he has approved the draft scheme submitted by the BCI in December 2004 to his Department; when the scheme will become operational; the level of funding available at this stage in the innovation fund; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19882/05]

Noel Dempsey (Meath, Fianna Fail)
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As I explained to the Deputy in Question No. 229 of 31 May 2005, I am awaiting the approval of the EU Commission in relation to the compatibility of the draft scheme with the relevant provisions of the EU treaty before I formally approve the draft in accordance with section 2(1) of the Broadcasting (Funding) Act 2003.

Under EU Regulations 659/1999 and 794/2004 the commission has until the end of this month to make a decision on the scheme although this period may be extended with the permission of the member state involved. Until formal approval is received from the EU Commission it is difficult to estimate when the scheme will become operational. To date approximately €20.3 million has been paid into the fund.