Liz McManus (Wicklow, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 191: To ask the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources the stage of his Department's work on the Broadcasting Bill; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34375/05]

Noel Dempsey (Meath, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

The priority issues to be addressed by the legislative proposals that will form the basis of a new Broadcasting Bill are as follows: the establishment of a single content regulator for commercial, community and public service broadcasters; 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 a 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.

Work on developing the legislative proposals needed to address these issues commenced following the passing of the Broadcasting (Major Events Television Coverage) Amendment Act 2003. Advancement of these proposals has taken longer than originally anticipated due to the complexity and range of issues which require to be addressed. However, good progress has been made and I anticipate that the Broadcasting Bill is on course for publication during 2006.

My intention in framing the legislative proposals will be to ensure that the broadcasting regulatory environment continues to encourage the parallel development of high quality broadcasting by Irish public service, commercial and community broadcasters.