Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 5 Jul 2001

Vol. 540 No. 3

Written Answers. - EU Meetings.

Brian O'Shea

Question:

16 Mr. O'Shea asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage Gaeltacht and the Islands the main topics discussed at the Council of Ministers meeting on 21 June 2001; the contribution she made to the discussion on the proposal by the Commission to prepare a communication on public service broadcasting; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20298/01]

Minister for Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands (Miss de Valera)

The main items on the agenda at the formal Council of Ministers meeting in Luxembourg on 21 June 2001 related to the protection of minors and human dignity; the exchange of information and experience between the European Union member states and the candidate countries regarding the audio-visual sector; the exchange of information and experience concerning the conditions for professional artists in the context of EU enlargement; certain legal aspects relating to cinematographic and other audio-visual works; public service broadcasting; the implementation of the Media Plus and Culture 2000 programmes; a report from the Commission on the implementation of the Council regulation on the export of cultural goods and the Council directive on the return of cultural objects and the audio-visual implications of the telecommunications directives.

There were no substantive discussions on the issue of public service broadcasting. The matter was on the agenda to enable an oral communication from the Commission to the Council. The Commission's briefing consisted mainly of informing the Council that a first draft of a Commission communication on the application of state aid rules to public service broadcasting had been recently circulated. The Commission is attempting to put in place a set of principles that it will use in its investigation of complaints of illegal state aids to public service broadcasters. There was no discussion on the topic.