Written answers

Thursday, 13 December 2018

Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment

Broadcast Advertising Standards Regulation

Photo of Jonathan O'BrienJonathan O'Brien (Cork North Central, Sinn Fein)
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180. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the way in which State advertising is regulated in view of the disbanding of the strategic communications unit; the mechanisms and criteria used in selecting publications for same; the body charged with monitoring State and political advertising; and his plans to introduce regulation of political online advertising. [52506/18]

Photo of Richard BrutonRichard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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I am responsible for Broadcasting Policy and my current role in relation to political advertising is limited to the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland's role in ensuring that Irish Radio and Television broadcasters comply with the prohibition on political advertising provided for in section 41(3) of the Broadcasting Act 2009. The Authority is a statutorily independent regulator established by the that Act and I have no role in relation to its operations.  

The Deputy's question refers to a number of matters and policy areas which are outside my remit. I do not have responsibility for political advertising on any other medium other than those referred to above. Questions in relation to the procurement of State advertising services should be directed to the Office of Government Procurement.

In relation to the regulation of online political advertising, in March 2018 the Department of the Taoiseach established an interdepartmental group chaired by that Department on the security of the electoral process and disinformation. The other members of that group are the Departments of Housing, Planning and Local Government; Business, Enterprise and Innovation; Education and Skills; Justice and Equality; Defence; Foreign Affairs and Trade; and my own Department, along with the Defence Forces and An Garda Síochána.

The Group published its first report in July, which recommended that Government seek to regulate transparency in Online Political Advertising. The report noted that this should be pursued in the first instance through consultation with all stakeholders. The Department of the Taoiseach conducted a public consultation in recent months, which informed the organisation of the Open Policy Forum on the regulation of transparency in political advertising which was held on 6 December 2018.

The forum focussed on identifying and discussing possible policy solutions that respect the right to freedom of expression and relevant EU law while promoting the transparency necessary in a democracy that will protect our electoral processes from hidden influences and disinformation.

The Interdepartmental group will now consider the submissions received to the public consultation, and the discussions which took place at the Forum.

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