Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 17 November 2020
347. Deputy Imelda Munster asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media when she plans to bring the Broadcasting (Amendment) Bill 2019 to Committee Stage; if she plans to amend its provisions in a significant way, in particular, sections relating to putting the licence fee out to private tender; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37081/20]
View answerI have two pieces of legislation concerning Broadcasting Regulation currently underway, namely the Broadcasting (Amendment) Bill 2019, which is at Committee stage and the Online Safety and Media Regulation Bill, for which the General Scheme was published in January 2020. I will shortly bring additional Heads of the Online Safety and Media Regulation Bill to Government for approval and inclusion in the General Scheme. Both pieces of legislation amend the Broadcasting Act 2009, and the Online Safety and Media Regulation Bill also transposes the Audiovisual Media Services Directive (AVMSD). I am currently giving consideration to how the intersection between the two pieces of legislation might best be managed and plans to bring the Broadcasting (Amendment) Bill to committee stage will be considered in that context.
