Tony Gregory (Dublin Central, Independent)
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Question 321: To ask the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources if his Department has received representations from organisations representing people with hearing disabilities in the past seeking policy commitment on the issue of subtitling of television, films and so on on RTE; the response of RTE to this issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37445/06]

Noel Dempsey (Meath, Fianna Fail)
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My Department has from time to time received representations from various organisations representing people with hearing disabilities in relation to 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. The rules drawn up by the BCI were developed following a comprehensive public consultation process and came into effect in 2005.

RTE is bound by BCI quotas on subtitling, signing and audio description. RTE maintains close contact with the deaf and hard of hearing user group associations and is committed to continuing to increase the output of subtitling each year.