Irish Language Committee to launch report on the challenges which Irish language broadcasting faces

The Joint Committee on the Irish Language, the Gaeltacht and the Islands will today, Tuesday, launch a report on the challenges which Irish language broadcasting faces.

The launch will take place in the AV Room of Leinster House at 2pm. The report will be available to view here from 3pm today.

Its findings and recommendations are based on evidence presented to the Joint Committee on the Irish Language, the Gaeltacht and the Islands by stakeholders, and on the review and consideration of this evidence by the members of the Joint Committee.

In this comprehensive report, the Joint Committee seeks to provide an insight into the status of Irish language broadcasting within the broadcasting sector and draws particular attention to the areas of legislation, regulation, funding, expenditure, broadcasting content, viewership and listenership, and subtitling.

Regarding legislation and regulation, this report recommends that the relevant sections of the 2009 Act be strengthened to enable the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland to develop pro-active Irish Language policies in conjunction with the State’s broadcasters.  It also recommends that Irish language broadcasting should be recognised as a primary duty in any definition of public service broadcasting and in any amended or newly drafted legislation relating to the communications sector.

Regarding ‘funding and expenditure’, the report recommends that the Government reverse the €6,000,000 in funding to TG4 which occurred with the onset of the recent recession.

Regarding ‘broadcasting content’ the report recommends that the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland should pay special attention to the issue of the various types of Irish language programmes being produced and broadcast, when reviewing any of its funding schemes that relate to broadcasting content.

Regarding ‘viewership and listenership’, the report recommends that broadcasters in general should recognise the existence of an Irish language audience and that broadcasters should meet the needs of this audience and that they should recognise the different needs based on age, interests, socio-economic background, etc.

Regarding sub-titles, the report recommends that the provision of sub-titling in both Irish and English be increased and that recognition be given to the various Irish dialects in this provision.