asked the Minister for Communications if he has completed the review of the operation of Section 31 of the Broadcasting Act, which he referred to in his reply to a Parliamentary Question on April 8 last; if, following his review, he plans to make any statement on the matter.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Section 31 Review.
7.
The current order under section 31 of the Broadcasting Authority Act, 1960 expires on 19 January 1988. I intend to take all relevant aspects of the issue into account before deciding whether to renew the order.
In the Minister's reply in April, he indicated that he was seeking guidelines from the RTE Authority about how they would operate if section 31 was set aside or amended. Will the Minister say whether he has got those guidelines and if he has considered them, and will he indicate to the House what the guidelines are?
I am not in a position to indicate to the House the details of the guidelines. I got the proposed guidelines and I have raised a number of questions with the RTE authority about their suggestions. That is only one section of the total input to the Government's decision and my decision at the end of the day as to whether to renew this order. We will consider the guidelines of RTE plus security issues and so on.
Will the Minister inform the House whether he is in favour of members of subversive organisations having access to the airwaves?
There is already an order under section 31 barring the appearance of specific organisations, and that is Government policy. That order has to be considered for renewal, for amendment or for abolition by 19 January 1988. The Deputy and the House can be assured that all considerations will be taken into account in deciding on that.
Is the Minister aware that members of Provisional Sinn Féin have had access to the airwaves by denying their membership of that organisation and that listeners are not made aware, as a result, as to where the views being expressed are coming from or of the political background to the views expressed? Would the Minister not accept that it would be better that these people be identified on the airwaves for what they are, and cross-examined as to the basis of their political views, rather than have listeners and viewers unaware of what their background is?
That point of view has been put to me by others and it is one of the points that will be considered in the decision as to whether or not to renew or amend the order.
Does the Minister intend to have the matter debated in this House before he confirms the order?
That is not my intention.
Could I have that answer again?
It is not the intention to have it debated between now and 19 January.
Would the order itself be debated?
That is a matter for the House to decide at that stage because the rule is that if the House decides to make a continuation order, the House has the opportunity, within 21 sitting days, to annual that order.
I want to clarify that point. Surely the Minister is aware that, unless one of the parties in opposition is prepared to give their time in Private Members' Time, that order cannot be debated in the House. Will he give an undertaking that he will ensure that time will be made available in Government time to debate the order?
I cannot give that sort of an indication or agreement here today. That would be a matter for discussion between the Whips.