Sandra McLellan (Cork East, Sinn Fein)
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To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he is satisfied with the level of Irish language advertising on RTÉ and TV3; his plans to increase the level of advertising as Gaeilge; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45060/12]

Pat Rabbitte (Dublin South West, Labour)
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In accordance with the provisions of the Broadcasting Act 2009, the public service broadcast corporations, RTÉ and TG4, are independent in the pursuance of their objects, subject to the requirements of the Act, and as such I, as Minister, have no function in the management of their day to day affairs, including decisions relating to advertising. I should point out to the Deputy however, that section 105(6) of the Broadcasting Act 2009 does provide that, with specific reference to the public service broadcasters, charges and conditions may be fixed subject to variations benefitting advertisers who use the Irish language in their advertisements. That said, the decision to broadcast advertisements in the Irish language, remains a matter for the public service broadcasters themselves. In the case of TV3 and other commercial broadcasters, these are independent, private enterprises in which I have no function.