Vol. 486 No. 5
26 Ms McManus asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands when the long-promised broadcasting Bill will be produced; if she will outline its main provisions; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2838/98]
I refer the Deputy to my answer to Question No. 205 on 7 October 1997. In the light of my consideration of the issues involved which have become much more complex than those obtaining when my predecessor was in office and, who, after four and a half years in Government, failed to introduce his own long promised major broadcasting legislation. I am now working on the basis that it will be necessary to bring forward two Bills on broadcasting. One Bill will have the primary objective of transposing article 3A of Directive 97/36/EC which is designed to ensure continued access for viewers to coverage on free-to-air television of events of major importance to society. The second Bill will be a more comprehensive broadcasting Bill dealing with other critical issues such as the introduction of digital broadcasting, the establishment of Teilifís na Gaeilge as a separate statutory entity and measures to support the local radio sector.
I hope to be able to submit my proposals for both Bills to Government later this year.
