Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 29 Nov 2011

Vol. 748 No. 1

Other Questions (Resumed)

Broadcasting Legislation

Charlie McConalogue

Question:

51 Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he has had any correspondence or discussions with the Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht regarding changing the legislation to fund the Film Bord from the funds dispersed by the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland under the sound and film funding scheme of the BAI; the nature of these discussions; if any decisions have been taken; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37233/11]

Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources (Deputy Pat Rabbitte)

As the Deputy may be aware, a steering committee was established in 2009 by the then Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht with the specific purpose of developing a series of recommendations aimed at stimulating the growth of Ireland's audiovisual industry over a five-year period. The results of the work of this committee are set out in the Creative Capital report which was published in July 2011.

Among the recommendations contained in this report is a proposal for the creation of a single funding agency for the audiovisual sector. In essence, this proposal envisages that all State funding related to audiovisual content production would be transferred to a revamped Irish Film Board. This would include the funding currently available to television and radio content producers under the Sound and Vision fund, which is part of the broadcasting fund currently administered by the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland.

Since the publication of the report and on foot of a Government decision, a new interdepartmental committee was established by the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht and has been tasked with examining the feasibility of the various recommendations contained in the report. This committee comprises representatives of relevant Departments, including the Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources, as well as certain industry bodies.

The committee has met twice since it was established and it is my understanding that no formal discussion has yet taken place on the recommendation referred to by the Deputy. As the committee has yet to consider the feasibility of this particular recommendation, there have been no discussions or correspondence in respect of the question of any legislation that might be required in the event that this particular proposal was considered to be practical or feasible. I can confirm, however, that I have had correspondence with the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht in regard to the possible inclusion of a representative of the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland on the committee and this has now been agreed.

Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív

Is it intended to use this report to substitute Exchequer funding given to the Irish Film Board with licence fee money? Would the Minister be concerned about the effects of any possible change, particularly in the community radio sector, the commercial broadcasters and also the likes of TG4, etc., if such a proposal was to cause a diminution of the funds available to the broadcasting media under the Sound and Vision fund?

Deputy Pat Rabbitte

The short answer is that speaking personally, I would be concerned. As Chou En-lai said about the French Revolution, it is a bit too early yet to know. The recommendation to which the Deputy refers has not even yet been reached by the interdepartmental committee and it will consider it. I am happy that the Minister, Deputy Deenihan, has agreed to my request that the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland would be represented on that committee.

There are obvious possibilities for Ireland in the creation of employment in the creative industries and in the broadest sense of the term, audiovisual. We have plenty of creative people and I would like to see that sector continue to develop. However, the Sound and Vision fund has a particular purpose and it is not my disposition at this stage anyway, to contemplate changing it.

Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív

I am reassured by the Minister's response. I ask him to confirm that a representative of his Department will be on the interdepartmental committee.

Deputy Pat Rabbitte

Yes, my Department is represented on the committee. The report merits the kind of study it is receiving. Various people working in this broader area have made the suggestion that Ireland has a certain competitive advantage which we should exploit in the sense of creating wealth and jobs and in terms of our international reputation. Having said what I said about the Sound and Vision fund, I do not wish to constrain those possibilities in any way. It seems to me that as the Deputy has said, the Sound and Vision fund at the moment has a purpose. It is a fund which is well used and those who have access to it at the moment would be of the view they could not really manage if they did not have access to the Sound and Vision fund.

Energy Regulation

Barry Cowen

Question:

52 Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he has had discussions with the Commission for Energy Regulation regarding the provision of pay as you use electric meters in houses of customers that have difficulty paying utility bills; and if he is satisfied that there is a sufficient supply of such meters to meet demand. [37220/11]

Deputy Pat Rabbitte

The regulation of the electricity and gas market is the responsibility of the Commission for Energy Regulation which is an independent statutory body. My Department and I are, nonetheless, in contact with the regulator from time to time regarding the functioning of the domestic electricity market. In this context, addressing the issues faced by customers experiencing genuine financial hardship is of paramount importance to me.

In line with the regulator's code of practice on disconnection, electricity and gas suppliers must facilitate payment options for domestic customers experiencing genuine financial hardship and, where appropriate, engage with a money adviser acting on behalf of the customer, such as MABS or a recognised charity. This must include offering the customer a prepayment meter or budget controller if this is possible.

The regulator has been working with electricity suppliers on the provision of prepayment meters. In this regard, the regulator has developed a more modern prepayment keypad meter solution with the industry, which will be available to customers of all suppliers in financial hardship. They are similar to the keypad meters offered in Northern Ireland.

ESB Networks commenced the installation of these meters last month and the roll-out is progressing well. Prepayment electricity meters have been available since 24 October 2011 to customers in financial hardship. The regulator is working to ensure meters are distributed in an equitable manner between suppliers and are being rolled out as efficiently as possible. ESB Networks has both the systems in place and sufficient stocks of prepayment meters to install an estimated 2,000 monthly, a figure that comfortably outstrips current and projected demand. The company also has a further supply of meters on order.

Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív

One of the utility companies indicated to me that there is a shortage of prepay meters. Is the Minister confirming there is no shortage of this type of meter and that anyone who needs one will receive it promptly?

Deputy Pat Rabbitte

Yes. As I indicated, the position is that the availability of prepay meters "comfortably outstrips current and projected demand". I hope that will remain the case.

Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív

That is not what I have been told but I will take the Minister's word on the matter.

Deputy Pat Rabbitte

In accordance with the new protocol I announced a couple of months ago, where a customer in genuine financial hardship has entered into a prepayment plan or installed a prepay meter, his or her service will not be disconnected. The important dimension is that disconnections will not take place in cases where people exercise their right to request a prepay meter or be party to a payment plan.

Irish Language

Michael Moynihan

Question:

53 Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources his policy regarding the primary language, Irish or English, to be used in the naming or renaming of State agencies, State companies and other bodies under his remit; his views that in view of the fact that Irish is the national language, and so designated in the Constitution that the Irish forms of such names should take primacy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37245/11]

Deputy Pat Rabbitte

A key objective in the naming of public bodies is to convey clearly to the widest possible number of people a sense of the purpose and role of such a body. As most such bodies are established by statute, the name in both Irish and English is set out in the relevant statute. While responsibility for policy on the Irish language is a matter for my colleague, an Aire Ealaíon, Oidhreachta agus Gaeltachta, my own view is that it would be appropriate that the name of a body be used in either language as appropriate to the context.

Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív

Among State agencies, the Health Service Executive, which is always referred to as the HSE, is the predominant name. There has been a tradition of using Irish language titles for State companies, for example, Bord na Móna, Bord Gáis, Bus Éireann, Coillte and FÁS. This practice gave us a sense of national identity. Recent indications from the Government suggest it intends to effectively refer to all such bodies by their English name. While it may allow for an Irish version in the relevant Act, the English name, as opposed to an Irish equivalent of Bus Éireann or Coillte, will be the one used. Is it the Government's intention to continue with this policy rather than revert to the policy pursued in previous times when names such as FÁS, Coillte, Bord na Móna, Bord Bia and so forth predominated?

Deputy Pat Rabbitte

Did I say that?

Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív

That is my understanding of the Minister's reply. He should read it.

Deputy Pat Rabbitte

I do not believe I said that. I am becoming forgetful but not to the extent that I do not recall what I said a moment ago.

Deputy Finian McGrath

The pressure is on.

Deputy Micheál Martin

Forgetfulness is a modest admission by the Minister.

Deputy Pat Rabbitte

I am not aware of any change in policy in this regard and none has been communicated to me. Bodies under my remit, for example, Bord na Móna, and that of my colleague, the Minister of State, Deputy Coveney, for example, Coillte, are branded and trade under the names they have been given. That will continue to be the case. It was Deputy Ó Cuív's Government which changed the name of Teilifís na Gaeilge to TG4. I am not aware of any intention to change the policy but if the Deputy indicates specifically what he is referring to, I will attempt to respond.

Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív

When new bodies were established the policy until recently was to use the Irish name as the predominant name, as in the case of Bus Éireann and so forth. I accept that under the previous Government, the use of the English name became a habit, one with which I did not agree. As the Minister has outlined in documents on new agencies which are to be established, the English name will be universally used. When naming new bodies or redesignating bodies will he revert to making the Irish name the predominant name, as was previously the case?

Deputy Pat Rabbitte

If there is any policy by the Government to change practice and refer to the bodies in question in the English language only——

Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív

I referred to new bodies, not existing ones. The Minister should read the question.

Deputy Pat Rabbitte

——I am not aware of it. Such a policy is not intended. It is not exactly the daily meat of the Government to think about what we will call any bodies that are set up. We are trying to close down some bodies and merge and amalgamate others. It is not immediately on the agenda to have an bord nua in whatever area. If, however, there are good reasons to establish a new State agency or commercial entity, I am happy to agree with the Deputy that we should select a suitable name as Gaeilge which would be the brand under which the new company would trade. It is not my intention to establish new bodies unnecessarily, however. We had too much of that in the recent past, as I am sure the Deputy will agree.

Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív

The possibility of merging Coillte and Bord na Móna has been discussed and the proposed name for the new organisation is in the English language.