Vol. 560 No. 1
150 Mr. Stagg asked the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural resources if he will make a statement on the European Parliament resolution on media concentration in view of recent concerns with regard to the ownership of Irish broadcasting media. [1837/03]
While the European Parliament resolution on media concentration calls on member states to safeguard media pluralism and to ensure that the media in all member states are free and diversified, the remainder of the resolution is directed at the European Commission. Specifically, the resolution calls upon the European Commission to undertake a broad consultation process, draw up an updated green paper, complete its examination within the current parliamentary term and to submit a proposal to the European convention so that the principle of freedom of the media may be given a stronger basis in the treaty. I look forward to the contribution of the Commission in that regard.
In so far as the broadcasting sector in Ireland is concerned, the Radio and Television Act 1988 and the Broadcasting Act 2001 requires the Broadcasting Commission of Ireland to formulate and apply a policy that takes account of ownership and diversity of content. Following a wide consultation process the Commission published a policy statement on ownership and control which sets out the Commission's overall policy objectives and provides a clear decision making framework for dealing with issues impacting on the freedom and the diversification of the broadcast media in Ireland.
