Deirdre Clune (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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Question 95: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources when the Broadcasting Bill is due to be published; if he will provide further detail on what will be contained in the Bill; if he will elaborate on his comments in the media recently in which he referred to the need for RTÉ not just to chase ratings and to broadcast less foreign programming at prime time; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10641/08]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin South, Green Party)
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In September 2006 the draft general scheme of the Broadcasting Bill was submitted to the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Communications, Marine and Natural Resources for the purposes of public consultation under the eConsultation initiative. The essential elements of the draft general scheme of the Broadcasting Bill included:

The establishment of a single content regulator for commercial, community and public service broadcasters to be known as the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland (BAI) which would encompass the existing regulatory functions of the Broadcasting Commission of Ireland, the Broadcasting Complaints Commission and the RTÉ Authority.

The provision of a statutory mechanism for the oversight of public funding of RTÉ and TG4, and

The amendment of the existing public service remits of RTÉ and TG4 to allow them use public funding for the purposes of developing new broadcasting services using web-based technologies.

It is proposed to publish the consequent Broadcasting Bill in April 2008 in the light of the Joint Oireachtas Committee's conclusions on the outcome of the eConsultation process and the recent agreement with the European Commission in respect of mechanisms for the oversight of public funding of RTÉ and TG4.

In relation to RTÉ's remit, it is my intention that they would continue to inform, educate and entertain by showing a broad range of programmes. The Joint Oireachtas Committee published its conclusions on the draft general scheme in April 2007. The Broadcasting Bill has been prepared with a view to ensuring the appropriate regulatory and organisational structures for the growth and development of public service, commercial and community broadcasting in Ireland.