Vol. 421 No. 9
10 Mr. Currie asked the Minister for Tourism, Transport and Communications if she will confirm that RTE has budgeted and operated within the capped limit of the Broadcasting Act, 1990, with the result that, by the end of 1991, earnings exceeded the cap by £8 million; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
It is a matter for RTE to operate within the terms of current legislation. I have no statutory function in day to day budgetary and operational matters in RTE. Based on information received from RTE, I understand that in 1991 the revenue derived by RTE from advertising, sponsorship and other forms of commercial promotions in broadcasts exceeded the limit set in section 3, subsectin (2), of the Broadcasting Act, 1990, by roughly £8.5 million. Section 3, subsction (4) of the 1990 Act sets out the procedure in the event of revenue derived from the aforementioned sources exceeding the set limit in any year.
Surely the Minister, under the Broadcasting Act, has some say in regard to the money that has accumulated. Could she find out, if she does not know already, what is being done with the money and whose control it is under? Would she consider, in view of this limit, that advertising in RTE for small and medium-sized business is so expensive that it is going outside the State and indeed outside the island? Will the Minister consider if some use could be made of this £8.5 million in that respect, or indeed, something dear to her own heart, in terms of doing something in relation to an Irish language TV channel?
The last part of the Deputy's question relates to the subject matter of a following question, so I will deal with it then. Contrary to what the Deputy might think, I do not have any statutory function under the Broadcasting Acts in relation to day to day operational matters of RTE or in relation to their budgetary matters. I am aware of the difficulties which have been created for small and medium-sized enterprises. I share the Deputy's concern in relation to the limited availability of advertising and the prohibitive cost of such advertising because of the difficulties which have arisen in the wake of the 1990 Act. That is why I moved quickly to review the 1990 Act. I said here and elsewhere that I hope to have legislative proposals in that regard before the Government in the autumn and I hope that legislation will follow quickly.
I will allow Deputy Currie one brief question as the time for dealing with priority questions is well nigh exhausted.
Am I to understand that this money that RTE under the Broadcasting Act is not supposed to have, is lying there earning interest for RTE? Could anything be more stupid?
That relates to day to day operational matters of RTE. It is not a matter in which I have any statutory function.
They cannot do anything about it.
