Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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Question 363: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources his views on the requirements for objectivity and impartiality in section 39(1) of the Broadcasting Act 2009 are sufficiently robust, adequately monitored and suitable for today's media; and his plans to introduce legislation on the matter. [15694/11]

Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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Question 364: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources his plans to review the Broadcasting Act 2009 to ensure that objectivity and impartiality in current affairs broadcasting is properly protected in the context of increasing consolidation of media ownership; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15695/11]

Pat Rabbitte (Dublin South West, Labour)
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I propose to take Question Nos. 363 and 364 together.

Section 39 of the Broadcasting Act 2009 provides for the duties of broadcasters and includes duties in relation to objectivity and impartiality in news and current affairs as referred to by the Deputy. In addition, Part 4 of the 2009 Act makes provision for the preparation and implementation of codes of practice in relation to complaints handling and for a complaints process for cases where, inter alia, a broadcaster is considered to have failed to have complied with one of its duties under the Act.

The Broadcasting Act 2009 assigns these functions to the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland, an independent regulatory body, including the role to investigate and adjudicate cases where complaints are made and, accordingly, I have no function in the matter.

I am satisfied with the robustness of these provisions and, as such, I have no plans to introduce new legislation in this area.

Policy matters regarding the consolidation of general media ownership in the context of mergers is a matter for my colleague the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation.

Michael Moynihan (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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Question 365: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources his views on whether there are sufficient controls in place to ensure editorial independence within the written, broadcast and online media here; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15696/11]

Pat Rabbitte (Dublin South West, Labour)
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Section 42 of the Broadcasting Act 2009 provides, inter alia, for codes governing the standards and practice of broadcasters, encompassing the issues raised by the Deputy concerning editorial independence within broadcast media. In addition, Part 4 of the 2009 Act makes provision for the preparation and implementation of codes of practice in relation to complaints handling and for a complaints process for cases where, inter alia, a broadcaster is considered to have failed to have complied with a Broadcasting Code.

The Broadcasting Act 2009 assigns these functions to the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland, an independent regulatory body, including the role to investigate and adjudicate cases where complaints are made and, accordingly, I have no function in the matter.

Additionally, the European Communities (Audiovisual Media Services) Regulations 2010 requires that on-demand audiovisual media services or programmes that are sponsored or contain product placement shall ensure that their content shall in no circumstances be influenced in such a way as to affect the editorial independence of the media service provider.

I am satisfied that this legislative framework is sufficient to provide the appropriate level of regulatory oversight in this area.

Editorial independence within written and online media, by which I mean newspapers and online news media, other than to the extent mentioned above, are not within the remit of my Department and accordingly I have no function in these matters.