The timetable for legislation in areas within my remit is as set out in the Government's legislative programme, published on 23 January. I am aware the Deputy recently expressed concerns in the House in relation to promised legislation on broadcasting and wildlife, in particular, and I would like to set out clearly the position in both cases.
With regard to broadcasting, in light of my consideration of the issues involved — which have become much more complex than those that obtained when the Deputy was in office and, who, after four and a half years in Government, failed to introduce his long promised major broadcasting legislation — I am working on the basis that it will be necessary to bring forward two Bills on broadcasting. One Bill will have the primary objective of transposing into law article 3A of Directive 97/36/EC, which is designed to ensure continued access for viewers to coverage on free-to-air television of events of major importance to society. The second Bill will be a more comprehensive broadcasting Bill dealing with other critical issues such as the introduction of digital broadcasting, the establishment of Teilifís na Gaeilge as a separate statutory entity and measures to support the local radio sector. I hope to be able to submit my proposals for both Bills to Government later this year.
While a draft of the Wildlife (Amendment) Bill was close to finalisation before the Deputy left office, it was not a final draft. A number of technical issues which had been raised by the parliamentary draftsman's office remained to be resolved. The sections of the Bill relating to the designation of natural heritage areas needed to be revisited, particularly in the context of the level of protection proposed in the draft legislation. In addition, certain sections of the Bill required examination and revision in the light of experience gained from the process of preparing the European Communities (Natural Habitats) Regulations, 1997. A working group in my Department has been working to finalise these outstanding issues with a view to having an updated draft ready for the parliamentary draftsman's office next month. It should be noted that some of the issues involved will have to be agreed in consultation with other Departments.
I have availed of the opportunity to consult with a number of interested parties in regard to the Bill. The purpose of the Wildlife (Amendment) Bill is not to legalise EU directives, as stated by the Deputy in this House on 28 January last. The relevant EU directives — the Birds Directive and the Habitats Directive — are already transposed into Irish law, principally by means of the European Communities (Natural Habitats) Regulations, 1997, which were signed by the Deputy, as the then Minister for Arts, Culture and the Gaeltacht, in February of last year.