Vol. 409 No. 9
20 Mr. McCartan asked the Minister for Tourism, Transport and Communications if he will consider amending the Radio and Television Act, 1988 to increase the powers available to the Independent Radio and Television Commission to compel stations to comply with the programming standards they promised when applying for licences; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
The Radio and Television Act, 1988 provided inter alia for the awarding by the Independent Radio and Television Commission of sound broadcasting contracts to suitable applicants. The Act provides also that the Commission may suspend or terminate such contacts “if the sound broadcasting contractor has, in the opinion of the Commission, committed serious or repeated breaches of his obligations under the sound broadcasting contract or under this Act”. The Commission are engaged in Continuous monitoring of the compliance by operators, with the terms of their contracts and I have not received any indications that the Commission are dissatisfied with their powers under the Act. The Deputy will appreciate that the legislation is still relatively new and its application will be kept under review.
