Michael McDowell
Question:7 Mr. M. McDowell asked the Minister for Arts, Culture and the Gaeltacht the current status of the proposed Broadcasting Bill; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4685/97]
Other Questions. - Proposed Legislation.
Liz O'Donnell
Question:20 Ms O'Donnell asked the Minister for Arts, Culture and the Gaeltacht the current status of the proposed Broadcasting Bill; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4683/97]
Michael McDowell
Question:21 D'fhiafraigh Mr. M. McDowell den Aire Ealaíon, Cultúir agus Gaeltachta an bhfuil sé i gceist aige iachall a chur ar an Earnáil Neamhspleách Chraolta suas le deich faoin gcéad dá gcaiteachais a chur chun tairbhe do chláracha Gaeilge; agus an ndéanfaidh sé ráiteas ina thaobh. [4701/97]
Tógfaidh mé Ceisteanna Uimh. 7, 20 agus 21 le chéile. As I have already indicated in reply to priority question No. 21 I have now brought my legislative proposals to Government and hope that the Government will consider them shortly. I seek Government approval to have these proposals published and I will take into consideration any observations I may receive on foot of these proposals in the course of drafting the Bill that will be presented to the Oireachtas in due course.
Will this Bill deal with the difficulty that has arisen regarding the use of deflectors to bring multichannel television pictures into large areas of rural Ireland where cable television and MMDS are not available?
Matters of frequency management are the responsibility of my colleague, the Minister for Transport, Energy and Communications, Deputy Dukes. The point raised by the Deputy is an important one, and the future of transmission systems in an age of technological complexity will be part of the consideration of the Bill.
The Taoiseach made public commitments that he would take steps to deal with the difficulties that have arisen in regard to the continued use of deflectors. I recall one occasion in Carrigaline when the Taoiseach made the commitment. I wondered whether this opportunity would be availed of to bring in legislation to regularise the situation. Does the Minister propose introducing any requirement for part of the licence fee to be paid to the independent radio companies to assist them in meeting their statutory obligations in regard to the provision of news, current affairs and Irish language programmes?
The Government has to approve the heads of the legislation. I intend to seek permission to publish these and to have discussions on the very matter the Deputy has raised. The role of the public service broadcaster on the one hand or an element of public service broadcasting across the whole spectrum of broadcasting on the other is a fundamental issue. That issue is addressed in the legislation.
An mbeidh údarás neamhspleách faoi leith i gceist sa Bhille nua do Raidió na Gaeltachta agus do Theilifís na Gaeilge le neamhspleáchas a thabhairt dóibh agus deis chun forbairt mar is cuí?
Beidh an reachtaíocht ag déileáil le struchtúir do Theilifís na Gaeilge: tá sé ráite agam go bhfuilim i bhfábhar struchtúr neamhspleách don Teilifís ach ag an bpointe seo ní féidir liom níos mó a rá ach go bhfuil an ábhar seo faoi na ceannteidil sa reachtaíocht agus nuair a fhoilseofar é, tig linn é a phlé go mion.
When can we expect to see the Bill?
Very shortly.