Michael D Higgins (Galway West, Labour)
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Question 126: To ask the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources if the Broadcasting Bill which emerged from the recent widespread e-consultation process will be published before the general election; if he will issue a directive to the BCI to ensure that general campaigning advertising such as the recent Trócaire campaign will not be subjected to censorship; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11366/07]

Noel Dempsey (Meath, Fianna Fail)
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I regret to say that I have not as yet received the final report of the Joint Oireachtas Committee following the e-Consultation process, so in view of the fact that the committee requested that I give the report full consideration, it is impossible for me to say when the Bill will be published. However, when I receive the report I will endeavour to publish quickly thereafter.

Section 4(7) of the Radio and Television Act 1988 provides that the Broadcast Commission of Ireland, an independent statutory body, has a explicit duty to ensure that commercial and community broadcasters comply with the provisions of section 10(3) of the Radio and Television Act 1988 which requires that "No advertisement shall be broadcast which is directed towards any religious or political end or which has any relation to an industrial dispute". As such I have no statutory function in relation to this matter.