Council Directive 89-552-EEC has compulsory effect and will be implemented. There is a degree of flexibility in the programme quota provisions and discussions are currently taking place with RTE with the objective of achieving the specified quotas as far as is practicable and within a reasonable time-frame.
A number of provisions were included in the Broadcasting Act, 1990 in order to facilitate transparent compliance with a number of aspects of the Directive. These included, for example, the area of advertising time limits and standards and the "right of reply" provisions. The question, however, of the need to adopt further measures in the form of a statutory instrument under relevant EC legislation is currently under consideration in conjunction with the Attorney General's office.