Pat Breen (Clare, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 420: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources his views on the recent decision by the Broadcasting Commission of Ireland to ban an advertisement from a shop (details supplied); if he has plans to amend the restrictions on religious advertising as contained in Section 41 of the Broadcasting Bill 2008; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46169/08]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin South, Green Party)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Both the Broadcasting Commission of Ireland and the Broadcasting Complaints Commission are independent statutory bodies and I have no role with regard to decisions made by these bodies.

Section 20(4) of the Broadcasting Authority Act 1960 (as qualified by section 65 of the Broadcasting Act 2001) and section 10(3) of the Radio and Television Act 1988 provide that broadcasters cannot accept advertisements that are directed towards any religious or political end or have any relation to an industrial dispute.

The prohibition on religious advertising does not prevent advertisements, which provide information about a religious magazine or periodical being available for sale, or about a religious event or ceremony taking place. The prohibition does not extend to religious broadcasting; sections 28 and 45 of the Broadcasting Act 2001 explicitly require RTÉ and TG4 to carry religious programming.

The Deputy will be aware that in 2004, the prohibition on religious advertising on radio and television was retained following a lengthy consultation during which over 150 submissions from the public were received by my Department. There was a strong argument that religious interests should not be able to buy air-time to deliver an unchallenged message, which other interests, through lack of resources, might not be able to match or counter.

Section 41 of the Broadcasting Bill continues the prohibition on religious advertising but does so in a less restrictive manner. The provision focuses on advertisements that address the issue of the merits or otherwise of adhering to any religious faith or belief or of becoming a member of any religion or religious organisation, as opposed to the existing restriction, which relates to advertisements directed towards a religious end. The section also continues the clarification that permits advertisements, which provide information about a religious magazine or periodical being available for sale, or about a religious event or ceremony taking place.