Paul Gogarty (Dublin Mid West, Green Party)
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Question 87: To ask the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources the way Ireland can ensure the future independence of RTÉ in view of the Government's proposed replacement of the existing authority structure with a corporate structure placing future Ministers as the single shareholder with charge of the company. [5359/07]

Noel Dempsey (Meath, Fianna Fail)
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The key objectives of the draft general scheme of the Broadcasting Bill are as follows:

To establish a single content regulator for commercial, community and public service broadcasters to be known as the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland (BAI) and encompassing the existing regulatory functions of the Broadcasting Commission of Ireland, the Broadcasting Complaints Commission and the RTÉ Authority.

To provide a developed right of reply to persons whose reputation and good name have been damaged by an assertion of incorrect facts in a television or radio programme.

To amend the existing public service remit of RTÉ and Teilifís na Gaeilge to incorporate the use of new web-based technologies in delivering on their mandates.

Provide a statutory mechanism for the oversight of public funding to RTÉ and Teilifís na Gaeilge.

To establish RTÉ and Teilifís na Gaeilge as separate companies under the Companies Acts 1963 to 2005.

With regard to the last objective, the draft general scheme proposes that both RTÉ and Teilifís na Gaeilge would be established as companies limited by guarantee with the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources acting as the sole guarantor. The draft general scheme proposes to introduce a number of new statutory provisions intended to ensure the future independence of RTÉ and Teilifís na Gaeilge.

Head 78 provides that both RTÉ and Teilifís na Gaeilge shall be independent in all matters concerning the content of their programmes and the times at which they are broadcast or transmitted. Head 89 imposes a strict duty on the directors of both RTÉ and Teilifís na Gaeilge to ensure the independence of the company regarding the conception, content and production of programmes, the editing and presentation of news and current affairs programmes and the definition of programme schedules from State, political and commercial influences. In addition, the provisions in the draft general scheme relating to the allocation of public funding, and alteration of the remit or activities undertaken by RTÉ and Teilifís na Gaeilge, subject such processes to increased public scrutiny.

Head 81 of the draft general scheme also proposes to continue the principle that removal from office by the Government of the board of RTÉ and Teilifís na Gaeilge would require resolutions to be passed by each House of the Oireachtas. The draft general scheme has been submitted to the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Communications, Marine and Natural Resources for the purposes of public consultation under the eConsultation initiative. I propose to introduce this Bill into the Houses of the Oireachtas in 2007 in the light of the outcome of the consultation process.