Vol. 562 No. 4
121 Ms Lynch asked the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources the basis of the decision in his Department to establish an annual fund of ?8 million from television licence revenue to be made available to privately owned broadcasters; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6263/03]
The establishment of a special fund was an important element of the package of measures agreed by the Government last December to reform and strengthen public service broadcasting in Ireland. The underlying objective of the package of measures was to ensure that radio and television services of the highest quality continue to be available to Irish audiences.
The new fund will result in additional high quality programming being offered to Irish audiences. The objective of the fund is to encourage broadcasters to innovate and offer more of the type of programming that audiences value. I emphasise that while the fund is open to all Irish broadcasters, it is not for broadcasters but for audiences.
I had no disagreement with my officials on the principle or the objective of the fund. There were differing views among my officials on the decision to finance the fund from the licence fee. I view it as a healthy sign that important decisions are informed by a considered debate amongst my officials and this is in fact the norm.
The Secretary General of my Department argued in favour of financing the fund from the proceeds of the licence fee. At the end of the day it is my responsibility as Minister to take decisions. I am satisfied that the decision I took was the right one. The programming financed from the fund will add to and enrich the radio and television services offered to Irish audiences.
In this context I would revert to the value of the Freedom of Information Act, which the Government wants to fillet and destroy in the Seanad this week, and next week in this House. As a result, there will be very little freedom of Government information and the media will be grossly restricted. In a memo dated 25 November 2002, the head of broadcasting in the Department, Mr. Ciarán Ó Hogáin, told the Minister there was a compelling case against making any of the licence fee available to privately owned broadcasting companies. Part of his argument was that the Broadcasting Commission of Ireland has already laid down stringent guidelines on the public service commitments of local radio stations and privately owned television stations. Was there not, therefore, already a remit for private companies? The Minister said the fund was not for foreign audiences.
The Deputy said it was for the audiences.
Is it not a problem that some of the revenue that will be enjoyed by certain companies in Ireland will then flow straight out to their foreign owners, given that a significant number of our radio stations are under foreign ownership?
The Deputy's time has elapsed. I call on the Minister to reply.
I agree with the Deputy concerning the Freedom of Information Act, of which I am a great supporter.
The Minister should do the business next week.
I was delighted that as a result of information obtained under the Freedom of Information Act, the fact that I am not a "Yes, civil servant" Minister was publicised.
We will never know in future.
With reference to the point of view of the official who was quoted in the newspaper, the Secretary General of my Department said, "Minister to see Ciarán's observations, please. I still consider that the overriding issue is to ensure that there is some funding available for other independents, firstly to support innovations in public service broadcasting and, secondly, to compare the value-for-money from RTE in this regard".
The Minister is trying to gag people.
Quite the opposite.
I made my decision based on the differing views expressed in my Department. If the Deputy goes to the records of the 1960s, he will see that the Civil Service actually objected to the Government's decision to introduce free second level education.
That was Donogh O'Malley.
Similarly, the Department of Finance was wary of setting up RTE in the first place. The fund is purely for additional programming which has to be home based. It is based upon a very restricted view of what this fund will be so as to ensure it is additional to whatever is being provided. The independent Broadcasting Commission of Ireland will decide on this, which will subsequently be known as the Broadcasting Authority. The fund will be for programmes that feature Irish culture, history or heritage with particular reference to the Irish language, art, local history, civics and folklore, excluding current affairs. It will also operate in respect of adult literacy.
If people do not want to apply to the fund then that is their prerogative. I have heard certain people in the broadcasting sector say that it is not for them. As far as I am concerned, however, it will give an opportunity, particularly to independent radio broadcasters here to produce additional innovative, home produced programmes.
What about in other countries?
