Willie Penrose (Westmeath, Labour)
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Question 536: To ask the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources if his attention has been drawn to the concerns expressed by persons in RTÉ relating to the proposal to dissolve the RTÉ Authority and the transfer of its broadcasting and corporate functions to a new RTÉ company limited by guarantee under the Companies Acts, and the impact of the draft proposals in relation to superannuation; the way this will impact upon the pensions of these persons; if his attention has further been drawn to the fact that the RTÉ Pensioners Association, believe that he should retain responsibility for the administration of the RTÉ superannuation scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14325/07]

Noel Dempsey (Meath, Fianna Fail)
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As the Deputy will be aware, the draft general scheme of the Broadcasting Bill was submitted to the Joint Oireachtas Committee for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources for the purposes of public consultation under the eConsultation initiative in September 2006.

The draft general scheme proposes that the functions and operations of the RTÉ Authority and Teilifís na Gaeilge would be transferred to two new public service broadcasting entities, Radio Teilifís Éireann and Teilifís na Gaeilge, both of which would take the form of companies limited by guarantee under the Companies Acts.

The draft general scheme also proposes that the superannuation benefits and other pension arrangements of current and former employees of the RTÉ Authority and Teilifís na Gaeilge would continue on no less favourable conditions in the context of the transfer to the two new entities.

The Joint Committee reported its findings on the outcome of the consultation process to the Houses of the Oireachtas on 18 April 2007.

I propose to introduce the consequent Broadcasting Bill into the Houses of the Oireachtas during the course of 2007 having considered the Joint Committee's findings.