Pearse Doherty (Donegal, Sinn Fein)
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1671. To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources his strategy, if any, for Ireland’s creative industry in broadcasting; if none exists, if one will be forthcoming; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24958/16]

Denis Naughten (Roscommon-Galway, Independent)
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My Department’s strategy for the Broadcasting sector is set out in its Statement of Strategy 2015 – 2017, which is available on the Department’s website. As outlined in this document, the strategy aims to ensure the continued provision of public service broadcasting that serves the needs of Irish audiences; to ensure the availability of high quality reception of Irish broadcasting services on a universal and free to air basis and to create a regulatory environment which supports a free, plural and diverse media sector in Ireland.

Part 7 of the Broadcasting Act 2009 provides for public service broadcasting in Ireland and sets out the provisions relating to the public service broadcasting corporations, RTÉ and TG4, including their principal objects. These objects provide the companies’ statutory mandates and encapsulate national policy in terms of public service broadcasting. The Act places a range of requirements on the public service broadcasters, including the obligation that RTÉ make specific amounts available each year for the commissioning of television and radio programmes from the independent production sector. In addition to their respective Statements of Strategy, RTÉ and TG4 submit public service statements, which have been informed by public consultation, every five years setting out the principles to be observed and activities to be undertaken by each corporation to fulfil their public service objects.

The Programme for a Partnership Government prioritised the publication of Culture 2025, as a Framework Policy to cover the whole cultural sector. In this context, my colleague, Minister Humphreys, has recently submitted a draft document Éire Ildánach/Culture 2025to the Joint Oireachtas Committee for consideration. My Department is currently examining the broadcasting elements of the draft document and will engage fully with the Department of Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural & Gaeltacht Affairs in the development of this document.

A comprehensive review of Ireland's creative sector is also to be undertaken shortly by independent consultants on behalf of the Department of Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs.  The study, which my Department is helping to co-fund, delivers on a commitment in the Action Plan for Jobs and will be the first major study of this sector since that done by Price Waterhouse Coopers in 2008. The study will provide a detailed analysis of the current state of the sector in Ireland and will involve widespread consultation with industry stakeholders. An important element of the report will be the identification of potential policy approaches to support, assist and develop the sector.