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Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 20 Feb 1990

Vol. 395 No. 9

Written Answers. - Council of Europe Convention.

John Bruton

Question:

220 Mr. J. Bruton asked the Minister for Communications the reason Ireland has not yet signed the Council of Europe Convention on Transfrontier Television; when the Convention was opened for signature; if he proposes to introduce legislation to ratify this Convention; the advantages of this Convention for Ireland and Europe; the countries which have ratified it; and if he will make a statement on any reservations Ireland has about the Convention from a cost or other point of view.

The Convention in question was opened for signature on 5 May 1989. Although it has been signed so far by 14 States it has only, given the relatively short period of time elapsed, been ratified by one of them.

The question of the Convention being signed on behalf of Ireland is currently under consideration as is the question of whether fresh legislation will be needed to enable it to be ratified. These issues are tied in with an examination of the mechanisms for implementing a recently adopted EC Directive on Broadcasting Activities which mirrors the Convention in all its substantive provisions.

The major advantage of the Convention is that it constitutes an agreed international framework for the transmission of television services — whether satellite or terrestrial based — on a transfrontier basis. From Ireland's point of view it gives an assurance that television services, originating in participating countries and receivable here, will meet an agreed set of standards in certain critical areas of broadcasting. It also provides a forum of recourse in the event of the standards allegedly being breached.
The Convention has no cost implications for the Exchequer and in general there are no particular reservations relating to it.
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