I would like to welcome all the witnesses to the joint committee's hearings on the proposed Broadcasting Bill. I am particularly pleased to welcome all those who have tuned into the committee's proceedings which are being broadcast live on the Internet. They represent the next phase of the e-consultation exercise. I jointly launched the website with the Government Chief Whip, the Minister of State at the Department of the Taoiseach, Deputy Kitt, on 6 September 2006. The e-consultation exercise has its genesis in orders of Dáil Éireann and Seanad Éireann of 6 July 2006, whereby the committee was instructed to publish on the Internet and advertise in the national media details of proposals for legislation on broadcasting submitted to it by the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources. It was then required to invite and accept submissions on the proposals through the Internet and by other traditional means. This coincided with the launch of the e-consultation website on 6 September 2006. The closing date for the receipt of submissions was 4 October 2006. Over 467 observations were submitted from organisations, groups and individuals. In the first phase the e-consultation website received almost 60,000 hits. This pilot project is breaking new ground by using technology to broaden how it engages with the public. Following receipt of the submissions, the committee was required under the orders of the Dáil and Seanad to determine those elements of the proposals which should be supplemented by oral evidence. This is the position at which we have arrived today.
The joint committee has selected 12 areas on which it will hear evidence over the next two days. They are: safeguards and guarantees regarding the Irish language; clarification of the objectives of the broadcasting authority of Ireland, BAI, in regard to electronic programme guides, digital media and community radio so as to accord with the Disability Act 2005, serving those with disabilities; how the levy to fund the BAI and its committees should be operated; statutory duties, codes and rules imposed on commercial, community and public service broadcasters, including equal status for radio and television services; sponsorship quotas for advertisements, news and current affairs; complaints and rights of reply; definition of "television"; the contract for and collection of the licence fee; staff obligations for the public service broadcaster; the audience council; the independence and remit of TG4; and fair trade practices.
As we conclude our discussion of each of these issues, members of the public will be able to participate further, as an Internet discussion forum has been set up for each topic in order that members of the public can submit their comments and opinions. The first such discussion forum will be launched on the econsultation.ie website, which is to go live at the conclusion of the first session at 11 a.m. The discussion forum for each topic will remain open until Thursday, 24 January, at which stage the joint committee’s public consultation will conclude. The committee will then take stock of the outcome of the web-based observations, the webcast public hearings and the discussion forum and report back to the Dáil and the Seanad — we hope by the end of January — on its opinions and observations on the issues raised in respect of the legislative proposals.
This e-consultation exercise has been significant. For the first time in the history of the Parliament information and communication technologies, ICTs, will have been used to provide for the Houses of the Oireachtas — in this instance, the Joint Committee on Communications, Marine and Natural Resources — the opportunity to engage directly with the public through the Internet. No doubt there will be lessons to be learned from this. For this reason the exercise is being independently evaluated by the Universities eConsultation Research Group which comprises representatives from Queen's University, Belfast; NUI Maynooth and the Letterkenny Institute of Technology. I take this opportunity to thank the group for its work. Its report will be published in due course. I also thank the moderators from Advice NI who are assisting in the moderation of the discussion forum.
On my own behalf and that of the members of the joint committee, I thank the clerk, the staff of the secretariat, as well as other Oireachtas staff for their dedication and hard work in bringing the project to this stage. Last but by no means least I thank the committee's consultant, Ms Saidbh McCarthy, for her invaluable guidance and assistance to members as we examined and considered the observations being made.
I want to introduce the members of the joint committee. Deputy Durkan is the Fine Gael spokesperson. Deputy Fiona O'Malley is from the Progressive Democrats. Senator Kenneally is a Fianna Fáil colleague of mine. Deputy Eamon Ryan is from the Green Party. Deputy Broughan is the Labour Party spokesperson. Senator Finucane is from the Fine Gael Party, as is the committee's Vice Chairman, Deputy Perry. Deputy Allen and Senator White who are not members of the committee but more than welcome to attend have joined us today.