The third session will deal with the proposed broadcasting authority of Ireland. The members have decided that the following areas would benefit from further discussion at these public hearings: how the levy to fund the BAI and its committee should be operated; the statutory duties, codes and rules imposed on commercial, community and public service broadcasters, including equal status for radio and television; and sponsorship quotas for advertisements and current affairs.
In looking at how the levy to fund the BAI should be operated, members are aware that how one controls the funding of an organisation allows one to control the independence or otherwise of that organisation. The statutory duties, codes and rules imposed on commercial, community and public service broadcasters, including equal status for radio and television, go to the heart of how we will regulate radio and television for the commercial, community and public service. The issue of sponsorship quotas for advertisements and current affairs-news affects the balance and relationship between commercial and public service broadcasters. We will deal with codes of practice relating to the commissioning of programmes but that will be in the session on RTE and TG4 on Thursday next between 10 a.m. and 11 a.m.
In our discussion on the draft ministerial broadcasting legislative proposals we will now discuss headings Nos. 36, 40, 41 and 42. Details of the people who will join the committee in the webcast are available from the econsultation.ie website. It also gives an overview of the proposals under each heading as they are discussed in the committee.
While committee members enjoy absolute privilege, the same privilege does not extend to witnesses. Therefore, the committee cannot guarantee any level of privilege to witnesses appearing before it. Under the salient rulings of the Chair, members should not comment on, criticise or make charges against a person outside the Houses or an official by name or in such a way as to make him or her identifiable.
We are joined by Mr. William Prasifka, Competition Authority; Mr. Peter Feeney, RTE; Mr. Conor Maguire, BCI; Mr. Michael O'Keeffe, BCI; Ms Mary Curtin, RTE group of unions; Ms Michelle Coffey; Mr. Pat McKenna, the Irish Hard of Hearing Association; Mr. David Tighe, IBI; Mr. David McMunn, TV3; Mr. Dusty Rhodes, Digital Audio Productions; Ms Mary Owens; and Sean MacAonghusa.
This session will last two hours. We will spend the first 25 or 30 minutes on the levies, with Deputy Durkan leading off. We will then move on to the other issues. As the live webcast will conclude at 4 p.m., I would also like the proceedings to conclude then.