Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 11 October 2012
36. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Communications; Energy and Natural Resources if provisions will be made to broadcast county and city council proceedings; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43727/12]
View answerThe Broadcasting Act 2009 fully provides for the establishment and operation of The Houses of the Oireachtas Channel. In particular, section 125 and section 126 of the Broadcasting Act 2009 provide for the development of an Oireachtas TV channel to be known as the “Houses of the Oireachtas Channel”. This legislation also provides that the channel should be established by the Commission of the Houses of the Oireachtas and that the oversight of the channel should be the responsibility of the “Joint Administration Committee”, a joint committee of the Houses of the Oireachtas. Section 125 provides that the Oireachtas Channel shall primarily provide coverage of the Proceedings of the Houses of the Oireachtas, subject to the consent of the Joint Administration Committee, the Houses of the Oireachtas channel may also provide coverage of matters and events ancillary to proceeding of the Houses of the Oireachtas, including the proceedings of:
1. A local Authority ( within the meaning of the local Government Act 2001);
2. The implementation bodies (within the meaning of the British-Irish Agreement 1999);
3. The legislatures of other jurisdictions outside the state;
4. The institutions of the United Nations, the European Communities and the Council of Europe; and
5. Such other bodies and institutions as the Commission of the Houses of the Oireachtas considers appropriate.
The legislation also provides that the Commission of the Houses of the Oireachtas may enter into such contracts as are necessary to establish and maintain the Houses of the Oireachtas Channel. Section 126 of the Act amends Schedule 1 of the Houses of the Oireachtas Commission Act 2003 to enable the Commission to fund the channel and to meet all expenses incurred in this respect.
