Vol. 409 No. 9
19 Mr. McCartan asked the Minister for Tourism, Transport and Communications if it is intended to implement new EC regulations which would require television stations to devote 10 per cent of their transmission times to independently produced programmes and 50 per cent of transmission time to European productions; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Council Directive 89-552-EEC has compulsory effect and will be implemented. There is a degree of flexibility in the programme quota provisions and discussions are currently taking place with RTE with the objective of achieving the specified quotas as far as is practicable and within a reasonable time-frame.
A number of provisions were included in the Broadcasting Act, 1990 in order to facilitate transparent compliance with a number of aspects of the Directive. These included, for example, the area of advertising time limits and standards and the "right of reply" provisions. The question, however, of the need to adopt further measures in the form of a statutory instrument under relevant EC legislation is currently under consideration in conjunction with the Attorney General's office.
Would the Minister indicate if negotiations regarding the implementation of these important directives are taking place? When will the mandatory directives be implemented in full? Would the Minister accept that the directives, if implemented, would have profound, if not amending, effect on the provisions of the 1990 Act? Will the Minister explain how he proposes to deal with them by way of ministerial directive? Would he accept that it would be preferable, if not necessary, to have amending legislation dealing with these directives?
It is very early days yet because these are proposed directives which are not yet EC law. The proposals must go through the entire process of becoming a directive and thereafter we will see to implementation. RTE do not foresee any major difficulties in meeting the time requirements proposed.
Would the Minister accept in principle that the direction in which these directives are seeking to send us is useful as a device for evening the playing pitch, to use the horrible expression that haunts us from the days of the Broadcasting Act? Would the Minister accept that proposition in principle?
The Deputy is confused. This is an entirely different issue. The proposal is that 10 per cent of transmission time would be devoted to independently produced programmes and that 50 per cent would be devoted to European production. It is a much broader matter than the specific competitive environment to which the Deputy refers.
I am sorry the Minister has missed the point.
That disposes of questions for today.
I seek the guidance of the Chair. I attempted to raise by way of Private Notice Question the Government's refusal to allow the President to participate in the Dimbleby Lecture.
Please resume your seat.
I do not want to raise any row.
You are raising a matter which is extraneous. Resume your seat, please.
Is there any means whereby a Member of this House——
Deputy Shatter, I will not allow you to disrupt the business of the House in this unruly fashion.
The Government are trying to muzzle the President and I seek your guidance as to how a Member of this House can, in an orderly way, raise the issue.
You might communicate with my office.
Is there a way in which we can raise the Government's attempt to muzzle the President? I believe it is an attempt with which the overwhelming majority of people disagree and the Government should answer to the House.
The Deputy must resume his seat or leave the House.
They will have to answer to the electorate.
