Jimmy Deenihan (Kerry North, Fine Gael)
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Question 93: To ask the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources if he has received communications from representative groups requesting the provision of subtitling in respect of television services; if he intends to respond to such proposals; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6632/06]

Noel Dempsey (Meath, Fianna Fail)
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My Department has from time to time received communications from representative groups and interested parties on the matter of subtitling on television services. Section 19(11) of the Broadcasting Act 2001 provides that the Broadcasting Commission of Ireland shall make rules requiring each broadcaster to take specified steps to promote the understanding and enjoyment by persons who are deaf or hard of hearing of programmes transmitted by that broadcaster.

Section 53 of the Disability Act expands this provision and provides that the rules shall require each broadcaster to take specified steps to provide access to audio-visual material to people with sensory impairments by means of specified services. The Disability Act lists a number of services, such as sign language, teletext, subtitling and audio description and requires that broadcasters have regard to whether the material is being provided daily or at other regular intervals, at popular viewing times and for news and news related matters as well as for other matters.

The access rules drawn up by the Broadcasting Commission of Ireland were developed following a comprehensive public consultation process and came into effect on 2005. As the Broadcasting Commission of Ireland is an independent statutory body, I had no role in the making of these rules.