Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 13 July 2023
427. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the extent to which she remains assured that the national broadcaster's future is secured on a proper business footing, and that private broadcasting continues to be encouraged; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35553/23]
View answerThe Broadcasting Act 2009 (as amended by the Online Safety and Media Regulation Act 2022), which is under my remit as Minister, sets out the regulatory framework that applies to broadcasters established in the State, which includes public service broadcasters, whose role is set out in the statute, and commercial broadcasters, which are licenced by Coimisiún na Meán.
It is important that our public service broadcasters are trusted by the people and the Oireachtas and demonstrate best practice in corporate governance and high standards in way in which they do business. That is why I launched an independent examination into RTÉ, which will include a Review of Governance and Culture which will, inter alia, provide an assessment of any organisational cultural characteristics and ways of conducting business within RTÉ, including staff morale and engagement.
The Broadcasting Act 2009 also provides for the licensing of commercial and community radio and television services as well as temporary and institutional radio services. The licensing process is intended to promote diversity of content by seeking applications for programme services that will add to the range of media services currently available in the State. Diversity of ownership is achieved by the licensing process via media ownership and control provisions set out in the Broadcasting Act 2009. Through this licencing process, commercial broadcasters are encourage to participate in the broadcasting market and fulfil wider public service objectives by providing programming that informs, educates and entertains.
Funding for programmes is available to the commercial, community and public service broadcasting sector through the Sound and Vision and Archiving Schemes, which are supported through 7% of net TV licence fee receipts. Since I entered office in 2020, I have allocated €22.4 million in Exchequer funding for the Sound and Vision Scheme, which is in addition to the licence fee allocation.
