Vol. 531 No. 4
193 Mr. R. Bruton asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage Gaeltacht and the Islands her views on the concept of a minimum quota of subtitled programming to meet the needs of deaf people; and the proposals she has to introduce this. [6085/01]
The Broadcasting Bill, 1999, will, when enacted, under section 19, require the proposed Broadcasting Commission of Ireland to make rules requiring each broadcaster to take specified steps to promote the understanding and enjoyment by persons who are hard of hearing and persons who are blind or partially sighted of programmes transmitted on any broadcasting service.
The section provides that the commission may set targets to ensure that a specified percentage of programmes use a specified means of promoting the understanding and enjoyment of programmes by such persons. The section also provides for consultation by the commission in drawing up such codes. This is the first time that the rights of persons with such disabilities are expressly recognised in broadcasting legislation.
It will be a matter for the commission in consultation with interested parties to decide if minimum quotas are the way forward.
