Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 27 Feb 1990

Vol. 396 No. 3

Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Broadcasting Standards.

Bernard Allen

Question:

12 Mr. Allen asked the Minister for Communications, in relation to his reply to Parliamentary Question No. 24 of 13 December 1989 in which he stated that he was satisfied that the mechanisms which are already in place in regard to broadcasts originating in Ireland obviate the need for a broadcasting standards council, if he will outline the mechanisms which are in place; and the necessary safeguards which exist under the EC Directive on Broadcasting Activities and the Council of Europe Convention on Transfrontier Television.

Mr. Burke

It is the statutory responsibility of the RTE Authority and the Independent Radio and Television Commission to ensure that the programming standards laid down in the Broadcasting Authority Acts, 1960 to 1979, in relation to RTE services and in the Radio and Television Act, 1988, in relation to independent services are adhered to. Complaints against the programmes broadcast by RTE can be investigated by the Broadcasting Complaints Commission and I have power to direct that the Broadcasting Complaints Commission investigate complaints against the independent broadcasting services.

The Council of Europe Convention on Transfrontier Television and the EC Directive on Broadcasting Activities provide that certain minimum standards in important aspects of broadcasting across frontiers must be met. The onus will be on each State where a broadcast originates to ensure that these standards are met. If they fail to do this it will be possible to inhibit the retransmission of the offending services by cable and MMDS franchisees.